A Promise to Arlette: A Novel

(Hardback)

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With the scope of a saga and the heart of a thriller, this is an evocative historical novel following a married couple whose idyllic 1950s suburban life is threatened by the promises they made during World War II.

Sidney and Ida Whipple are living the suburban 1950s American dream, complete with two children and a white picket fence, which didnt seem possible when they first met at the height of WWII in France. Reveling in the present, they can almost convince themselves that their past is behind them. But when their neighbors show off a newly purchased Man Ray photograph, Ida comes face-to-face with the person she loved and lost in the war: Arlette.

Only Ida knows the truth about the photograph, and why it cant possibly be authentic. In an attempt to right past wrongs, she travels to California vowing to confront Man Ray. Sidney wakes to find his wife is missing, the photograph in question stolen, and all the secrets theyve tried to bury come rushing back. With his daughters in tow, he travels after Ida, hoping to forge a new path together. Instead, their sojourn leads to a shocking discovery that could pull their family apart in this sweeping, unforgettable story about love and friendship, trust and betrayal, and how promises made, broken, and ultimately renewed, can determine our fate.

Reviews

"Burdick's latest vividly comes to life, transporting you to a dazzling 1930s Paris, the vestiges of 1940s chateaus and into the 1950s American suburbs. A Promise to Arlette is filled with captivating characters and wonderful storytelling which makes it absolutely memorable!" --Kim Michele Richardson, New York Times Bestselling author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
"Inspired by a photograph Man Ray took of the author's grandmother, Serena Burdick's A Promise to Arlette is a deeply emotional and sweeping novel that draws us into the heart of hidden lives. A Promise to Arlette masterfully explores love, betrayal, and the promises that have the power to shape or shatter our lives. Captivating, profound, and utterly unforgettable." --Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times Bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Author Bio

Serena Burdickis theUSA TODAYbestselling author ofThe Girls with No Names,The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey,Find Me in Havana, andGirl in the Afternoon. She studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College, holds a BA from Brooklyn College in English literature and an AA from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in theater.Find out more at SerenaBurdick.com.