“An affecting, deeply honest novel; at the same time, a lacerating indictment of our modern health care system.” — Kirkus Reviews “Montpelier Tomorrow is a beautifully written, superbly constructed novel which will almost certainly be the best Family Life/Literary Fiction novel you will read this year.”— Books Butterfly Editorial Reviews Her friends in Illinois think Colleen Gallagher has it all together: meaningful work, a loving family, and a knack for solving problems. However, caring for aged parents has left her little time to nurture a relationship with her emotionally distant daughter. . The birth of a second grandchild gives Colleen an excuse to pack her bags and relocate to Washington DC. But when her son-in-law falls ill, this kindergarten teacher and delighted grandma must change her focus from the little ones to the grownups. The young couple clings to the hope that they can make the most of their remaining time together — romantic getaways and date nights out. The more Colleen tries to penetrate the fog of denial, the more her daughter pushes away — outbursts of anger followed by withering silence. As Colleen juggles the multiple roles of grandma, cook, and caregiver, she discovers that even her superhuman efforts and a special “last” Christmas in Vermont can’t fix what’s wrong. Maybe nothing can. Should she save her family or save herself? If you enjoy flawed yet heroic characters and a powerful mix of tragedy and humor, then you won't want to miss Montpelier Tomorrow . This beautifully written, literary novel is a testament to the power of a mother's love and the resilience of the human spirit. Buy Montpelier Tomorrow today. Professional Book Reviews An affecting, deeply honest novel; at the same time, a lacerating indictment of our modern health care system.— Kirkus Reviews Montpelier Tomorrow displays a talent for exploring family relationships. In the eye of a storm, Colleen is a memorable, flawed, all-too-human wellspring of strength.—Karen Rigby for Foreword Reviews-Clarion Review Montpelier Tomorrow is an exceptional read. A mix of sadness and humor, it is indeed a story that should be read many times.—Anita Lock for The US Review of Books Montpelier Tomorrow is a touching read that highlights not only the challenges faced by those suffering from ALS, but the resounding strength of love that unites a family in the face of overwhelming grief. This is also an uplifting tale that underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable strength of the family bond.— Literary Fiction Book Review From Other Authors Each time I have read this fine novel, I have felt rewarded by the connection it offers to the central character. Colleen is that kind of character for which the large scale of the novel is made: her external and internal dilemmas have many dimensions; her relationships with other characters are shaped by complex past and present plot tensions; her viewpoint is transformative, that is, it presents the world as she alone perceives it. I can think of no single page in which her voice is not an irreplaceable gift to the reader.—Kevin McIlvoy, author of The Fifth Station, Little Peg, and Hyssop In her novel Montpelier Tomorrow , Marylee MacDonald illuminates a seemingly dark, hopeless story with light, humor, and compassion. In the aftermath of her son-in-law's devastating diagnosis, Colleen Gallagher becomes increasingly driven to save her daughter and grandchildren even as she struggles to forge a life of her own. Montpelier Tomorrow is at once an engrossing account of the impossible choices faced by caregivers in the United States and a moving portrait of one close-knit, memorable family.—Katherine Shonk, author of The Red Passport and Happy Now? All writers have subjects to which they're naturally drawn. For me, that theme has to do with women's place in the world —the way our time is structured, what society expects of us, and what we expect of ourselves.   We need to earn a living—and that's a big time suck—but after our workday ends, we're called upon to meet the emotional and physical needs of spouses, partners, parents, and children. Particularly in a woman's middle years, the so-called "sandwich generation," our need to provide nurturance for our loved ones competes with an awareness that life is finite and that we have many unfinished projects of our own. That's the situation Colleen, the protagonist in this novel, finds herself in.   Her daughter Sandy is at quite a different stage of life. Let's call it the "early nesting" stage. Sandy has just bought her first house, had her first child, and begun her first job. Add to that, she's at the stage where she needs to push away from her mother and solidify her sense of competency as a young wife and mother. She wants to make her own decisions and not be second-guessed.   These two women would not normally be on a collision course, but when Sandy's husband is diagnosed