The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

The Promise of Stardust

by Priscille Sibley

Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, seventeen when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and thirty-three when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything-except the baby they've always wanted. When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing-a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support. But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle's pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt's mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court-armed with Elle's living will. Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family...and one single life.

Reviewed by violetpeanut on

5 of 5 stars

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I love a book that makes me feel something. I mean, really have a reaction to it. A writer has done their job well when they make the reader feel a true emotion. Priscille Sibley did her job well. I was by turns sad, angry, smiling, hopeful.

Woven together seamlessly are two main threads to this book. The first, told mainly in the form of flashbacks and Elle's diary entries, is the love story of Matt and Elle. Their story is sweet and heartbreaking at times. I teared up more than once while reading of their struggles but also found myself smiling as well. Including the back-story of their relationship made Elle's situation seem much more real. I felt like I knew her and that made her injury and pregnancy more emotional for me the reader.

The second is a hot-button right-to-life issue. Elle is newly pregnant (around 8 weeks) and takes a fall from a ladder causing severe brain damage. It is determined that she has no brain function. Should a pregnant woman in a persistent vegetative state be kept alive solely as a vessel to grow her unborn child? Would taking her off life support be considered a form of abortion? The author did a great job of including characters encompassing different views and opinions on the topic. She showed how an issue like this can tear a family apart and also bring them together.

Overall, I really loved this. I think the characters were well written, the premise is thought-provoking and it was emotional. I would recommend this one to a wide variety of readers: fans of romance, legal thrillers, social issues, medical issues and authors like [a:Jodi Picoult|7128|Jodi Picoult|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1339242079p2/7128.jpg].

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  • Started reading
  • 4 January, 2014: Finished reading
  • 4 January, 2014: Reviewed