The plot had some interesting twists, and the author did a good job of creating tension. I liked the main character’s growth. It was an entertaining story with a satisfying conclusion.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this one up but I was thoroughly delighted. There were laughs, there were tears, and I enjoyed it very much.

Olympia is on a trauma induced self discovery journey. Her story is very believable and relatable. The characters are real. The plot well developed. This is not a quick read because it is very thought provoking. You will find yourself doing your own self exploration. Love this author because she is so skilled in her craft.

The Promise of Tomorrow by Mary Ellen Taylor was a gripping story!
A heavy, emotional and wonderful read!

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

i will basically read anything mary ellen taylor writes at this point. her work is so flawless, and this book blew me away!!!

A second chance romance walks a tight line between being predictable while not being too unrealistic. This particular story manages to stay on that line.

I did not expect the story I got when I first started the book. Olympia is home for a very short visit. She plans to attend her sister’s engagement party and run back to her life as an instagrammer who makes pizzas on the go. As a dual timeline narrative, we see how Olympia’s past worked, and how she helped her sister get to the point the latter is in now. We also find out why our protagonist’s love life imploded and how tough it might be to make things work.

All the characters in this book felt very three dimensional. There was satisfaction in watching the plot unfold. There were subtle twists thrown in which made some of the more frequently seen scenes in this type of story seem new.

I really enjoyed the writing and character building by the author. I would definitely pick up another book by her and recommend the book to readers of this genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Taylor's vivid descriptions evoke both the charm of small-town Virginia and the complexities of familial relationships. Themes of love, resilience, and the pursuit of identity thread through this narrative, making it a poignant and satisfying read. "The Promise of Tomorrow" is a testament to Taylor's ability to craft engaging stories that linger in the heart and mind.
Mary Ellen Taylor's "The Promise of Tomorrow" is a captivating tale that intertwines the lives of two women across generations. Her characters are intricately drawn, their struggles and triumphs resonating deeply.
This is a well-written tale of love, loss, forgiveness and being courageous. I loved it and highly recommend to anyone who likes contemporary fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an emotionally gripping book with twists and turns that kept me not wanting to put the book down. I had not read any from this author previously but am now anxiously looking for others she's written. This story proved that we don't always know what's just around the corner or what to expect, even when we think we do. Thus why some say "man plans, God laughs". Not sure if that is correct but it does remind us all that you just never know how our life story will end!

It's not really a review as I didn't finish.
I liked the blurb (and the cover and the title) but I couldn't connect with the writing style or the characters. Too slow for my liking. It seems like an unpopular opinion, so not posting the review anywhere else.

Thank you for the copy, sorry it didn't work for me.

I believe this was my first time reading this author although I know I have bought several of her books that are all in my kindle library. The Promise of Tomorrow by Mary Ellen Taylor is the story of Olympia and Spencer, a married couple who are on the verge of divorce after they experienced the loss of their daughter Adelaide by miscarriage. Olympia has had a really rough life and has had to grow up really fast. Her mother dies of cancer at a very young age leaving Olympia to raise her younger sister Eve. Even before her mothers passing, Olympia had to work at a local pizzeria just to make ends meet to put food on the table and keep the bills all paid all while taking care of her mother with her declining health along with taking care of her sister. Spencer comes from a very different background. He is an only child from a very wealthy family and has had an easy life until just recently when his father is diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s. This is a love story that depicts how tragedies can have different effects on people, how they cope and that sometimes it’s easier to deal with these difficult times together instead of apart. I really enjoyed this book, I was rooting for the 2 main characters to find their way back to each other and I was even impressed with the way Spencer’s mother, Barbara, softened as the story progressed. I’d like to thank Montlake Publishing and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. This was a great read, it’s a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading Women’s Fiction and I’m giving it a 5 star rating. I am now looking forward to reading some of this authors backlist that I currently have stored on my kindle and I’ll be keeping an eye out for any new books that this author may write in the future.

"The Promise of Tomorrow" by Mary Ellen Taylor is a beautifully crafted novel that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. Taylor’s storytelling is both poignant and compelling, seamlessly weaving together themes of love, loss, and hope in a narrative that stays with readers long after the final page.

The characters in this novel are its beating heart. Taylor has a remarkable talent for creating multidimensional, relatable characters who feel like real people. The protagonist’s journey is one of profound emotional depth, and readers will find themselves deeply invested in her struggles and triumphs. Her relationships with other characters are authentically portrayed, filled with genuine emotion and complexity.

Taylor’s prose is elegant and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the settings and adding rich layers to the narrative. The way she describes both the physical and emotional landscapes immerses readers fully in the story, making them feel as if they are part of the protagonist’s world.

The plot of "The Promise of Tomorrow" is expertly paced, blending moments of tension with quieter, introspective scenes. The story's blend of past and present adds a compelling dimension, revealing secrets and connections that enrich the narrative. Taylor’s ability to balance these elements keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.

In conclusion, "The Promise of Tomorrow" is a masterful work of fiction that showcases Mary Ellen Taylor’s extraordinary talent. It is a deeply moving, beautifully written novel that will resonate with anyone who appreciates a story of resilience and the enduring power of hope. This book is a true gem and a must-read for fans of heartfelt, emotionally rich storytelling.

Olympia goes back home after a year of fulfilling her mother's bucket list, for her sister's wedding. It was hard for her to go back, but she did make it, and only a few hours late. She was only planning on staying a few days, a week at the most, while she was there she learned a family secret and decided to try to find the answers. The story kept me reading, with the emotions that were going on, and her in laws were being nice to her, and Spencer is still trying to figure things out.
Sometimes, it takes challenges to make yourself stop and think about things, instead of trying to run away. When that happens, it makes them see things differently, clearer, and that brings change. The promise of tomorrow is never guaranteed, and you will see what happens when they figure that out. The story is emotional, but inspirational, too.
I received an ARC from Montlake through NetGalley.

I absolutely loved The Promise of Tomorrow!! From beginning to end, Mary Ellen Taylor captivated me with her storytelling.
Olympia and Spencer got married due to an unexpected pregnancy. But, when the baby died before Olympia gave birth, Olympia fled town and her life with Spencer. She came back for her sister’s engagement party and saw Spencer for the first time a year later.
From there, they both work through hurt and solve a mystery together that ties in with their unborn daughter. It’s a story of second chances and finding life again. I have no doubt that you’ll love this novel as much as I did!

A lovely story of running away from your past and your life, trying to forget and move forward, only to have to return and face everything. Hard to do, but so satisfying. Reading about the characters doing just that and the hope that they bring. I really was moved by this story.

Master storyteller Mary Ellen Taylor (favorite author) returns following When the Rain Ends with her latest richly woven novel, THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW. In the author's signature style, an emotionally moving story of loss, grief, love, secrets, second chances, and the meaning of home and family.

About...

Blacksburg, Virginia
Olympia has been running away from home for the last year with promises of freedom, self-discovery, and happiness in her van via a long winding road across the western US—from Missouri, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. She wanted to complete her deceased mom's bucket list.

Now, she was back in her old Virginia stomping grounds.

She planned on a quick trip, in and out, with no drama.
~Sign the divorce papers
~Visit the graves of her mother and daughter
~and return to the road.

She was back for her sister's engagement party with her fiance, Brad, a lawyer. She did not anticipate seeing her estranged husband, Spencer.

But things do not always work out as planned.

Told from POVs: Olympia and Spencer we get both their perspectives. They have dealt with grief and loss with the death of their daughter, her loss of mom, and now his father's mental decline and diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Spencer has given up his spot on the golf circuit to take care of the family business.

He never understood why Olympia left. On the other hand, she had hoped Spencer would follow her. From fractured family and sibling relationships, in-laws, family dynamics, and loss, will the couple find their way back to one another? Love is where you left it.

My thoughts...

THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW explores heavy topics of death, tragedy, grief, loss, and love in all forms on the road to healing and second chances. The author has a way with words, a Southern storyteller that will draw you into these families with a bit of fun and updates from her traveling diary @ThePizzaTraveler.

While not my author's favorite book, a compelling, thought-provoking, and beautifully written story. Taylor is always an auto-read, and I look forward to seeing what comes next. I am not a big romance fan; however, I am a big fan of the author's - contemporary (Mary Ellen Taylor) and thrillers (Mary Burton).

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for a gifted, advanced reading copy for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 1, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
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What a great book, with a lot of rollercoaster ups and downs and truth built into every chapter. Olympia escaped her life with her husband Spencer after losing their baby and on the road and running towards an uncertain future seems to be her fate. When her sister invites her to her engagement party, Olympia feels obligated to return and thus begins the saga of what tomorrow will bring for the ill-fated couple. This is a love story with bumps in the road and storms over the mountains, too. The characterization is perfect for making the characters relatable and lovable. They are vulnerable, dynamic and have good chemistry with each other if they will just let it happen. The plot is well-paced, not too fast or slow, and intriguing the whole way through. I was totally invested in finding out what would happen with Olympia and Spencer as well as Barbara, Frank, Eve and Brad. I liked the theme of making life an adventure because you never know what will happen next or when it will end. There are tragedies, hopefulness and a promise that things can get better. This is a well-written tale of love, loss, forgiveness and being courageous. I loved it and highly recommend to anyone who likes more than a bit of snark and wisdom in their contemporary fiction.
Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I also purchased my own copy from the First Reads Program on Amazon. I am disclosing this as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This novel touched on some pretty hard-to-discuss topics, which made it difficult to read all at once. However, the author did very well in addressing these topics.
Unfortunately, I didn't really connect with the characters throughout the story. However, the writing in the novel was engaging and fun.

So. Many. Feelings. When I pick up a Mary Ellen Taylor book I know I'm in for an emotional ride and The Promise of Tomorrow is no exception. She reels me in and keeps me hooked with relatable, flawed characters who engage my emotions, holding me at their mercy until their stories have been fully told, and storytelling skill that leaves me feeling like I'm right there with them, every step of the way.

No man - or woman - is an island and that is especially true in this book. There are many relationships skillfully interwoven throughout the book, all important in their own ways to the healing, forgiveness, and growth necessary for Olympia, Spencer, and others to move forward. I appreciate the fact that Taylor doesn't cut corners with any of them. Real life people don't change overnight and neither do her characters. They do, however, gradually evolve as a result of events in their lives, leading to a softening in some cases, strengthening in others, and the possibility of new beginnings in others.

I especially enjoyed the alternating chapters in this book told by Spencer and Olympia and the flashback social media posts detailing Olympia's personal journey of the previous year. They give the story a full scope of perspective, heightening the stakes and immersing me even more deeply into their evolution, individually and as a couple. I pulled so hard for these two.

Lastly, Taylor is especially adept at creating settings for her stories. Whether you've visited Virginia or not, her descriptions bring Blacksburg and the surrounding area to life, making it easy to imagine hiking the mountain trails, exploring the dry lake beds, and hanging out at the best pizza place in town on a busy football weekend.

If you enjoy multi-layered stories with complicated relationships, challenging circumstances, complex characters, and hard-won second chances, give this one a try.

4.5 stars

Content triggers: miscarriage, grief, Alzheimer's, cancer
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

To be honest my usual genre is historical fiction. Every once and a while I'll read something contemporary, which is what this novel is. I couldn't relate to it, yet finished it. There were many issues...grief, divorce, drama. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Ellen Taylor's THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW is the story of Olympia, a woman who has left Virginia, her small town, disintegrating marriage, and memories, but returns for one quick appearance for her sister's engagement. While I knew from the outset that this would be no quick in-and-out visit, I enjoyed the entire ride through the past, the present, and the future yet to be for Olympia, her husband, and the life she left behind. Well-written, a quick read, and a satisfying story mean I will seek out other stories by Mary Ellen Taylor.