A Promise Stitched in Time by Colleen Rowan Kosinski is a poignant tale of love and friendship that transcends time.

Maggie McConnell is a young artist with a deadline for entry into an art contest. Maggie hopes to win a scholarship to the Peabody Academy. On a quest for the perfect inspiration, Maggie buys a tweed coat at a thrift store, and ends up with more than she knows what to do with. A slew of paranormal events convinces Maggie her coat is haunted. With Taj, a childhood friend, Maggie sets about attempting to unravel the mystery of the tweed coat. Intense visions that become increasingly worse lead Maggie back to a person she’s known for some time- Miss Berk, an elderly lady with a past more extraordinary and heart-breaking than Maggie could have guessed. Unraveling the mystery of the coat leads Maggie to paint the most haunting work she’s ever done.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fairly quick read with a deep message. It may feature a ghost, or paranormal events, but it’s far from a horror story, unless it is the horror engendered by a very, very horrific event perpetrated by people against other humans. It’s more a psychological thriller, prompting thoughtful consideration. Is Maggie being haunted? Is she having a serious psychological break? Having visions of a past-life? Maggie’s (and Taj’s) perception resonates the most with me. It fits with my own worldview, though I’d rather not share Maggie’s experiences.

While I loved Maggie and Taj, and most secondary characters, I really just did not like Patty. She came across as very shallow. She’s all about the popular crowd, and tries to guilt Maggie into abandoning Taj as a friend. She doesn’t seem to really listen to Maggie’s opinions, needs, or desires. Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.