In Dean Hughes's Hearts of the Children series, Diane left her abusive husband, Greg, to protect herself and their daughter, Jenny. At book signings and speaking events, the question Dean hears more than any other is, "What happened to Diane?"

Promises to Keep picks up Diane's story years later. Diane is a single mom in her late thirties now, and Jenny is about to turn sixteen. Like most teenagers, Jenny is seeking her independence, and she and Diane are feeling tension in their relationship. Greg seems to offer Jenny the freedom she desires, and she keeps threatening to go live with him, causing Diane to look at the meaning of her own life. She has met Spencer, a man she is willing to consider marrying, but the complications in both families make such a marriage seem impossible. In which direction does happiness lie-- or can Diane find it within herself?