The Vow By Kim Carpenter: A Book Review

I had seen the advertisements on television for the new movie, ‘The Vow,” starring Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, and Jessica Lange. I looked forward to one day seeing the movie. And I also thought it would be interesting to read the book. I totally enjoy a good love story, and I mistakenly believed this book was written by Nicholas Sparks, that wonderful author famous for penning juicy love stories that often as of late have been turned into blockbuster movies. Imagine my surprise when I downloaded, ”The Vow” onto my Nook only to discover not only was this not a book written by Nicholas Sparks but is a true love story.

“The Vow” was written by Kim Carpenter, a man whose wife had gotten terribly hurt in a car accident in November of 1993 shortly after they were married. In fact, the medical personnel that treated her on that first night all expected her to die. Due to the accident, Krickitt Carpenter was so hurt that she needed months of rehabilitation. She also had amnesia so did not even remember that she was married. She did have memories of people who had been in her life way in the past, so she recognized her family, but not her husband, Kim.

The story is a heart-wrenching, tear-jerking one of one man’s commitment to his wedding vow to love and to cherish, “till death do us part.’ The book begins with the beginning of their relationship. They were both Christians who wanted to take things slowly and build the type of relationship that would honor Christ as the center of their love. The story moves on to their wedding, and shortly after, the accident that would change the course of their lives forever. It is a story that is almost too good to be true but shows what a true Christian commitment to love and marriage is all about.

During the time of the rehabilitation, the reader watches the struggle both Kim and his wife struggle with finding out who she is now, after the accident, and their attempt to fall in love, or at least grow in love all over again. One of the nicest additions to the book is the pictures that the couple included. These pictures range from them before they met, through their dating days, and their wedding, as well as pictures that are more current.

This book is a true testament to the sacrament of the wedding vow, and to how love and a true believer’s faith can carry them through anything. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story, and is also a Christian. Because a lot of the book deals with the tremendous faith this couple has in Jesus Christ and how that faith can carry anyone through great tragedy, it is an example to others as well as an interesting story. The book is also easy to read quickly.

This paperback book is currently available on sale at Barnes and Noble for $8.49 and also at Amazon.com for the same price. It is available at Barnes and Noble for the Nook at $7.50.