Since the Day We Promised

by Kerk Murray

One summer, one promise—but years later, will it bring them back together?
In the summer of 1948, eight-year-old Liam Wright—the poor boy everyone calls "the coward's son"—finds an unlikely friend in Amelia Jensen, the wealthy girl from the grand house across the field. Beneath a pecan tree, they carve their initials and make a promise.

But just when their bond seems unbreakable, Amelia's family vanishes overnight, leaving Liam heartbroken.

Twelve years later, Amelia returns to Hadley Cove—engaged to Liam's childhood bully. As old feelings resurface and secrets come to light, Liam and Amelia must

Can the promise they made as children survive the people they've become?

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Each book in the Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series can be read as a stand-alone novel that ends with a happily-ever-after and no cliffhangers. If you enjoy clean and wholesome stories featuring swoony heroes, strong heroines, and rescue animals, you'll want to binge them all.

❤️Book 1: Since the Day We Danced
❤️Book 2: Since the Day We Fell
❤️Book 3: Since the Day We Kissed
❤️Book 4: Since the Day We Wished
❤️Book 5: Since the Day We Left
❤️Book 6: Since the Day We Promised

Genres: Romance

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2025

About the author

Kerk Murray is an Amazon Top 50 and Barnes & Noble bestselling author of clean contemporary romance. His series include Dog Lovers, Hadley Cove Sweet Romance, and Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance.

Fans of Rachel Hanna and Debbie Macomber will love his Southern small-town stories about second chances—featuring swoony heroes, strong heroines, and rescue animals that you'll fall in love with too.

Beyond writing, Kerk is the founder of The Lexi's Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps animal rescues save more lives. A portion of his book proceeds supports this mission because every animal deserves a forever home.

Connect with Kerk and sign up for his newsletter at www.kerkmurray.com for new releases and exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming books.

For film and subsidiary rights inquiries: info@kerkmurray.com

Follow Kerk:
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2171938...
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/kerk-murray
Amazon: www.amazon.com/KerkMurray/e/B09C39NLYT
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kerkmurray
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kerkmurray
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kerkwrites

Reviews

[Delores · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved this whole series but this last one fell a bit short.

[Natalia Devargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in Hadley Cove sweet romance series. The feel-good stories, I have loved every single one.

[Traci Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and I’d give more if I could!)

The Hadley Cove series by Kerk Murray completely stole my heart. From the very first book, I felt like I was living in Hadley Cove myself, surrounded by friends I never wanted to let go of. Each story is full of charm, heart, and clean romance that leaves you feeling uplifted and warm inside.

One of my favorite touches is how every book includes a four-legged, furry friend who makes the story even more special. The characters feel so real, the setting so inviting, and the writing so captivating that finishing the series felt like saying goodbye to my best friends.

This is truly a phenomenal series and an absolute must-read for anyone who loves heartwarming, wholesome romance with small-town charm. All five-star reads for me!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Since the Day We Promised by Author Kerk Murray . One summer, one promise—but years later, will it bring them back together?
In the summer of 1948, eight-year-olds Liam Wright and Amelia Jensen made a promise beneath a pecan tree. But just when their bond seemed unbreakable, fate tore them apart.

Twelve years later, their paths cross again.

With their worlds now so different, can the pull of the past bring them back to the magic of that one summer?
One summer, one promise—but years later, will it bring them back together?

As eight-year-olds, Liam and Amelia are fast friends. They explore the world together, sharing adventures. It matters not to them that they come from different social circles. Liam is poor and is being raised by his hardworking widowed mom. Amelia’s parents are well-off, with wealthy friends and business associates. The two make a pact to always be friends, but they are torn apart when Amelia’s father moves his family away. Twelve years later, their paths cross again, but Liam is dismayed to learn that Amelia is engaged to Liam’s archenemy, a rich boy who has made his life a misery for as long as they have known each other. And Liam can do little but worry about Amelia. This story is told as a flashback by Liam who is now in his eighties. He tells the story at a pet rescue center, to the people and dogs there. The story gives readers some background information about the patriarch of the series. It’s a sweet and gentle tale, well told with two beautiful characters who share a love that doesn’t fade with time. The author does a great job making his characters seem real, and giving readers a heartwarming story of enduring hope and happiness..

Thanks to NetGalley, Magnolia Press and Author Kerk Murray for the ARC for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since the Day We Promised by Kerk Murray is the 6th book in the Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series. This is the 2nd book in the Hadley Cove series that I've read. I enjoyed the first story so much, I was eager to read the rest of the series.

In the summer of 1948, eight-year-olds Liam Wright and Amelia Jensen meet. They become friends and share some adventures. They don't care that they come from different social circles. Liam is poor, while Amelia's parents are well off. They made a promise under the pecan tree to be friends forever. Their bond seems unbreakable, but fate has other plans. Twelve years later, their paths cross again. Things are different. Their worlds are different. Can their past connection bring them back together? Can they recapture the magic from that one summer?

Hadley Cove is charming and feels like home. When reading the stories, you feel like you're among friends. You feel part of the community and can't wait to share in their story. I always feel a connection to the characters. They are real and relatable. I love how each story includes a furry friend. The Hadley Cover series is heartwarming, a wholesome romance series, and invites readers into that small-town life.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As eight-year-olds, Liam and Amelia are fast friends. They explore the world together, sharing adventures. It matters not to them that they come from different social circles. Liam is poor and is being raised by his hardworking widowed mom. Amelia’s parents are well-off, with wealthy friends and business associates. The two make a pact to always be friends, but they are torn apart when Amelia’s father moves his family away. Twelve years later, their paths cross again, but Liam is dismayed to learn that Amelia is engaged to Liam’s archenemy, a rich boy who has made his life a misery for as long as they have known each other. And Liam can do little but worry about Amelia. This story is told as a flashback by Liam who is now in his eighties. He tells the story at a pet rescue center, to the people and dogs there. The story gives readers some background information about the patriarch of the series. It’s a sweet and gentle tale, well told with two beautiful characters who share a love that doesn’t fade with time. The author does a great job making his characters seem real, and giving readers a heartwarming story of enduring hope and happiness.
I was given an advance copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lia Lorimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting!
Emma (from Book 1) and her grandfather, Liam, are regular visitors to Hadley Cove’s animal shelter, with Emma delivering her home-made dog treats and Liam reading stories to volunteers, visitors and the animals…until the day he decides to tell his own story.
The author builds a beautiful narrative, highlighting the rewards of hard work and determination, and the contrast between poverty and privilege. The story includes events both happy and tragic, humorous and serious, and kind and malicious.
Kerk Murray has delivered a fitting finale to his excellent Hadley Cove series, taking his audience back to the aftermath of the Second World War in a small rural town in Georgia. An unlikely friendship between Liam, ridiculed and bullied, and privately tutored Amelia results in one memorable summer for these two eight-year-olds. Include a stray dog and the book becomes a winner!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of a flashback book for the series as we learn about the patriarch (of a couple of the other characters in the series) love story. He tells the story to the pets and their humans at the rescue center. It is such a sweet story about how he grew up and met a very special girl at 8 years old. Liam was a very poor boy with only a widowed mother and Amelia is a very rich girl who doesn't see any class difference unlike others of her class. Most of the story takes place in 1948 after WWII and then jumps 12 years (with some flashbacks to three years previous). The character interactions are wonderful and of course there has to be a dog that pulls things together.

This is a heartwarming story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carolyn Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet love story about childhood friends and overcoming adversity. I finished it in one sitting. Books don't often make me sob, but this one did. There was an innocence and nostalgia about the story that gave me all the feels.
"He closed his eyes for a moment and could almost smell her perfume. Her laughter echoing as he chased her around that old pecan tree. The warmth of her small hand in his after he'd finally caught her."
This line made me bawl. "There was a particular kind of heartbreak that came not from losing her, but from realizing that maybe she was never really his to begin with. Somewhere deep inside, a piece of him broke off and was gone. He cleared his throat and let the paddle drag, skimming the surface. "We ought to head back."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clean romance. It is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Liam has grown up in Hadley Cove. He is from a poor family as his father died in the war. But, it's also been mainly a happy childhood, except for the bullies at school. Amelia and her family moves next door. They are both about 8. They spend the summer playing, having fun. finding a puppy. Then she abruptly moves away. He connects with her 12 years later as he is supposed to build a boat for her family. Will she remember him? Is the connection they had as kids still there?

This was a good story. I liked how it started with him telling his story to the pets and people at the animal shelter. He usually reads a book an instead tells his life story. I loved to hear how his life evolved. Good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all the Hadley Cove books and have really enjoyed this sweet, small town romance series. Since the Day we Promised takes us back to 1948 when Liam meets Amelia. He has grown up "on the wrong side of the tracks" and doesn't seem to fit in with the other townsfolk and even with Amelia and her family but the two kids have a connection that can't be broke and though they are separated when young they find one another years later and their love for each other is still there. This sweet romance is told in story-form as Liam recounts his love story with Amelia and it's definitely bittersweet.

I just noticed that Kerk Murray has a new series coming out in 2026 (The Sugarberry Ridge series) and can't wait to read those books too!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 29 October 2025

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book. It is an old man telling his story of how he met his wife and what happened when they were separated and re-united. It seemed a bit unrealistic that they would have fallen in love with each other as 8 year old children. There is some drama. As usual in this author's books, there is a dog who is important in the story and relationship, too.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the Day We promised by Kerk Murray is the sixth book in the Hadley Cove sweet romance series. It's a well-written captivating clean story with beautiful characters. The story is captivating and put together wonderfully. Hadley Cove is a beautiful little place by the sea. It's a loving community, a small town that you really want to visit yourself. You get a familiar feeling when you read the story, you wil meet old friends an places you visited befour in the books you've read befour.

[Jessica Hembree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these Hadley Cove stories. While this one wasn't my favorite, it was sweet and enjoyable to read. I recieved an advanced digital copy of this story, and I'm glad. I like that each of the books in this series can be read on it's own, but are all connected at the same time. Can't wait to see if there are more Hadley Cove romances to come!

[Tai LoveCoffeeBookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful love story! I couldn't stop reading this story of two deeply meaningful characters. Liam and Amelia, perfectly written and developed. A story of healthy love, of overcoming difficulties; love conquers all, and forgiveness heals broken hearts. This story is highly recommended.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sixth and final book in the Hadley Cove series is delightful and heartwarming. I am glad to have read and enjoyed all six books.

I received this book free from the author, publisher, or other source. My only obligation is to provide a fair and honest review.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and quick read. The characters were easy to love and root for. I felt like the ending was a little rushed but overall, it was a great book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book! It was nice to learn the back story of some o the people from Hadley Cove.

[Renee]

DNF I actually was loving this book but my hold ran out before I could finish. Will check it out again!

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

trip down memory lane

Liam and Amelia´s story is told from the perspective of a trip down memory lane, still the story is full of drama and you keep wishing for things to end well.

[Tommi Dukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the Hadley Cove books but this one really touched me by following Liam’s life and bringing the story back to the beginning.

Great book by a great author.

[Carrie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great prequel/end to a beautiful series. Clean reading. Kerk has a way with words that make you feel like your in the story

[LaRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a feel good story! Uplifting and clean. Love a good friendship able to overcome the odds. And a furry friend is a wonderful addition! I am a big fan of this whole series!!