Tomorrow Comes at Midnight

Jayden and Lula have been together since their early teen years, but a motorcycle accident that destroyed his up-and-coming baseball career and took him from college, is colliding with her continuing art education at the same school. Their love is supposed to be solid, but their lives are going in different directions and neither is completely willing to give up on the other. 

Set in East Texas in 1979, this story paints a true to life and exceptionally rich picture of what was considered “normal” about drugs, alcohol, and sex at the time. Just the right number of details mixed in perfectly remind readers of the setting, and that one cannot judge the characters based on modern understanding. It will take longer than normal for the real action to start and the point to be made and the set up to occur, and though necessary for the timeline a bit of tightening wouldn’t harm the story. There are some loose ends that are never tied up regarding the bad guys and all that surrounds them, which do not affect the outcome but may leave readers frustrated. This tale, told mostly through Jayden and Lula’s point of view, is about first loves, mistakes, second loves and second chances, and acceptance of outcomes not wanted, but needed. God and faith are woven into a few characters, but there is never preaching or oppressive religion, just down-home belief. The happily-ever-after is not expected after all the characters have to go through, and it is both beautifully distressing and exasperatingly satisfying; and proof that all will work out as it should.

Julie York