Mary Ellen Taylor

Author Mary Ellen Taylor's beautifully-detailed writing brings to vivid life a poignant time and generation spanning tale, "The Words We Whisper". From WWII Italy to present-day Virginia, this powerfully emotional story will take readers on a journey of words that they will long remember. Zara Mitchell is a traveling hospice nurse dedicated to the comfort and well-being of her patients. With her big heart for people--and animals--she even adopts the pets of the patients who pass away. When show more Zara's older sister, Gina, calls and begs Zara to come home to help care for their dying grandmother, Zara can't refuse. Zara's grandmother, Nonna, may be showing signs of physical decline, but her mindset is as formidable as ever. She immediately tasks Zara with cleaning up the attic and helping her to find special mementos. Zara is surprised by a visit from Nicolas Bernard, the widower of one of her patients, Catherine, who had passed away two years ago. Nicolas has been fulfilling a bucket list written for him by Catherine, and one of the items on the list involved Zara. As Zara begins to sort through items from the attic, she and Gina realize there is much more to their grandmother's past than they could ever have imagined. Zara is taken aback when she learns the real reason that she was summoned home, and her mind is awhirl now that life as she knew it will never be the same. The three women come together as bits and pieces of truth fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, and a new sense of family begins to grow. Throughout the present-day story, author Mary Ellen Taylor has interspersed glimpses into the past--into the turbulence of WWII Italy, the time and place which was the launching point for the events that would affect the characters and shape their lives. The storytelling here is stellar, and I was deeply involved in seeing how the story line would be resolved. Yes, there is poignancy, but there is also hope and affirmation. "The Words We Whisper" is highly recommended.

Book Copy Gratis Author show less

This beautifully written and emotional book kept me up past my bedtime. I got so involved with the lives of the two main characters that I had to find out if and how they solved their problems. This book deals with some heavy subjects - death and grief, love and loss, a parent with Alzheimer's and it is very sad in parts but also contains hopes for the future. It's told in alternating chapters by the two main characters so that the reader is able to see how two people deal very differently show more with grief.

One day Olympia packed her car and drove away from her small Virginia home town. She's traveled all over the western states to complete her deceased mom's bucket list. She appears to be resilient and strong as she travels, often sleeping in her car and only stopping to work to make enough money to continue her travels. Now a year later, she's back in her hometown for her only sister's engagement party. Her plans are to only stay in town long enough to sign divorce papers to end her marriage with Spencer, visit the graves of her mother and daughter and then get back on the road but things don't always work out like we plan.

Spencer is working hard to handle his father's diagnosis of Alzheimer's. He has given up his place on the golf circuit to come home and take care of the family business. He doesn't really understand why Olympia left but he still appears to be in love with her. He, too, is dealing with grief from the death of their daughter as well as his strong father's mental decline.

Along with the fractured relationship between Olympia and Spencer, there is a tenuous relationship between Olympia and her sister and her negative treatment from Spencer's parents. It looks at grief from all sides - not only grief from a death but also grief from ended relationships and losing trust in family. I really enjoyed both of the main characters and hoped that they would have a happily ever after.

This emotional look at grief and loss along with hope for happiness is a book that I won't soon forget. show less

I have a Favorite Books of 2020 list, and Honeysuckle Season takes top spot! Oh my. What a wonderfully engaging, emotional, mesmerizing story.

I won’t give a synopsis of the story. In this instance, the less you know the better. But I will tell you this story touched me deeply. The descriptions are vivid, the atmosphere is palpable, and the characters are impeccably developed. I became immersed in these big lives in a small Virginia town.

I would r-e-a-l-l-y love for this book to be made show more into a motion picture, for I can visualize every scene, every nuance, as if watching it on a screen.

This is my first experience reading a book by Mary Ellen Taylor and I’m so impressed. Consider me a fan! Ms. Taylor expertly weaves together patchworks of lives from the 1940s to present-day, creating a beautiful tapestry of longing, liberation, and love.

This book puts me in the same frame of mind as Fried Green Tomatoes, in that both stories showcase special bonds between unlikely pairs, capture the flavor of the South, and seared my heart.

I quickly became submersed in this story, experiencing pain, fear, regret, loss, perseverance, redemption and incredible love. Big love. So much love. So many kinds of love—familial, romantic, and unforgettable friendships. These characters and their heart-piercing stories touched me deeply and really put me through the wringer. There are so many shining stars in this story (and a few foil characters I love to hate) but Libby shines brightest for me. The journey through Libby’s life—her losses, loves, and history—feels authentic and meaningful.

I love the uses of honeysuckle in the title and story. The sweet-smelling, flowering honeysuckle vine represents both tenderness and strength of loss and love and is the perfect symbol for this emotionally charged story. Actually, I love everything about this story. The title. The cover art. The setting. The plot. The dialogue. The time periods. The varying POVs. The southern nuances. The nostalgia. The writer’s voice. And especially the memorable, endearing characters.

Honeysuckle Season is a memorable, meaningful, well-balanced, full-bodied, gut-wrenching, heart-piercing, extraordinary tale!

#MaryEllenTaylor #HoneysuckleSeason

I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy of this book. show less

This story consists of the present day and past and how the lives of 2 sisters re-unite to take care of their grandmother during her last days. Nonna, who immigrated from Rome after the war carried many secrets. Going back in time during the resistance against the invasion of the Nazis in Rome, the survival and the secrets held come to life in a hidden
journal written in Isabella's voice. Many twists at the end which I didnt really see coming, I was sortof disappointed when the truth of Nonna show more came out. Overall, I did love the story as it is another tragic survival story which, although it may not be true, it definitely rings true for many survivors of that horrendous war. show less