Chasing Loons

by Natasha Derouchie

A poignant, heart-wrenching journey of love, loss, and healing—perfect for fans of Carley Fortune, Kristan Higgins, and Rebecca Yarros.

Nora Merrick never planned to lose herself in grief. She never planned to lose her husband either.

When tragedy shatters her world, she’s given an unexpected gift—a remote lakeside cottage in Ontario, Canada, a place her late husband secretly purchased for her. It was meant to be a refuge, a place to heal. But instead of solace, it becomes a quiet battleground between the past she can’t let go of and the terrifying unknown of a future without him.

At first, solitude is all she wants, but life has other plans. New friendships, familiar faces, and unexpected connections begin to pull her back into the world. Somewhere between sunrise canoe rides and bonfires under the stars, Nora realizes that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting—it means allowing herself to feel again. But when an undeniable spark ignites, she must ask Is she truly ready to open her heart again?

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian wilderness, Chasing Loons is an emotionally gripping, slow-burn romance about finding hope after heartbreak—and discovering that love has a way of finding you, even when you’re not looking.

This is Natasha Derouchie’s sophomore novel, following her debut series, Blood Secrets.

Content Chasing Loons explores themes of grief, loss, and emotional trauma. It contains mature language, discussions of death and bereavement, and closed-door intimate scenes. Reader discretion is advised.

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Barbara L. Knieff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. It’s a story of losing an extraordinary love and the devastating grief that follows. It’s about the journey of picking up the pieces and learning to live and love again. The author writes in such a way that you actually feel the heartache. I’m not going to lie, parts of this book made me cry so be prepared. But, it ends with a happily ever after. This made my heart happy and I finished reading the book with a smile on my face. READ THE BOOK! You will not be disappointed.

[Capt.]

TBR (self-note): Blurb says FMC lost her husband whom she loved and thinks she’s not ready to move on. I love me a good dead husband trope angst in this oversaturated dead wife trope nightmare in books

[Deidre Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story. It had me crying and laughing. If you love having your heartstrings pulled on, found family and emotionally gripping books... this is for you. I found Natasha on TikTok when I came across a reel for her debut Novel, Blood Secrets (I am anxiously awaiting the 2nd book to that series), and I have followed along with her since then. She is a Canadian Author, and this book will make you fall in love with Ontario cottage country. I absolutely am attached to the main character, Nora, and even though I haven't experienced the type of grief this character goes through, I found her, her journey and her selfdiscovery relatable.

[Alyssa Palme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the title and the cover of Chasing Loons the moment I saw it! It drew me in instantly. When I read the blurb, I knew I had to have it. Natasha has a gift for writing about difficult, and heartbreaking topics with such grace and beauty. Her storytelling is raw, emotional, and poetic all at once. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work in the future!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a bit confused on who was the second MMC. I didn't get the build up of the romance. It was practically just the two last chapters, even less.

Plus I found Ethan selfish, I know it's bad saying that for someone that knew his fate and had to make a difficult decision but I think he was selfish.

[Becca Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this ! I could not put it down!