The Other Side of Goodbye

Welcome to Redemption, Alaska #1

by Heidi McCahan

Where broken hearts come to heal.

"Just because you lost Chase doesn't mean you have to shut me out... “

Sometimes the greatest love stories begin with the deepest losses.

When widow Tisha Binford arrives in Redemption, Alaska with her seven-year-old daughter Sadie, she's carrying more than just their belongings—she's carrying the weight of her late husband's memory and the hope of giving Sadie a connection to the father she barely knew. Working at her in-laws' café and perfecting her pie recipes, Tisha believes she's building a quiet, safe life in this small coastal town.

But Redemption has other plans.

Ethan McGuire, a recently retired Coast Guard pilot, has returned home with his own heavy burden—raising his eight-year-old son Brody alone after losing his wife to cancer. Determined to be the father Brody needs, Ethan thinks he has his future mapped help with the family resort, support his struggling son, and keep his heart carefully guarded.

When a school conflict brings their children together as unlikely friends, Tisha and Ethan find themselves drawn into each other's orbits. But moving forward means confronting painful Can you honor the past while embracing the future? How do you teach children to love again when your own heart is still learning?

As Redemption faces an unexpected natural disaster, both families must discover that sometimes the other side of goodbye isn't an ending—it's the beginning of something beautiful, messy, and worth fighting for.

A heartwarming story about second chances, blended families, and the courage to love again, set against the stunning backdrop of small-town Alaska.
________________________________________
Perfect for readers who
• Small-town romance with heart
• Stories of healing and hope
• Complex family dynamics
• Alaskan settings
• Characters who feel like real people facing real challenges

Welcome to Redemption, Alaska
Book 1: The Other Side of Goodbye
Book 2: The Long Way Back to You
Book 3: The Last Mile Between Us
Book 4: The Hidden Light of Her

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 20, 2026

About the author

Heidi McCahan writes uplifting inspirational romance novels set in small towns. She is a bestselling author of several books, including Her Alaskan Family and A Baby in Alaska. A perfect day for Heidi includes a huge cup of good coffee, dark chocolate, and reading stories with happy endings. She makes her home in North Carolina with her handsome husband, three amazing boys, and the world’s greatest Goldendoodle. Heidi is represented by Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency. A Winter of Sweet Secrets, Heidi’s next novel with Harlequin Love Inspired, releases on September 30, 2025.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi McCahan writes to show the challenges single parents have in navigating life after the death of a spouse.

Helicopter pilot Ethan McGuire and his 8-year-old son, Brody, return to Redemption, Alaska, and meet Tisha Binford and her 7-year-old daughter, Sadie, when they return to the same small town. The burden of grief is a difficult enough journey alone, but each feels the added pressures of helping children relocate, fit in at school, and then continue on without the love and support of a parent. Ethan and Tisha learn that they need to face the hard, scary things because it’s what’s best for their families in the long run.

McCahan’s prose highlights the vulnerability of grief, the anxiety of starting afresh, and the guilt that comes with ‘moving on’. Her characters learn to trust that God can use even the worst experiences for good, that courage enables them to bounce back from their failures, and that even when they discover that not all happy endings last forever, God has brought them to Redemption, Alaska, for a reason.

I’m officially hooked on this emotionally rich and faith-based series!

Advice: Have a slice of pie ready! 🥧

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this story, readers will be taken on the ups and downs of surviving loss and heartbreak and trying to move on and hope for a happy future.

I’v met Chase in the novella and understood and felt Tisha’s loss and grief. In her story we could see that everyone has their own pace of letting go and moving forward. I adored her mother-in-law and how she supported Tisha but wanted her to step into God’s future of happiness.

Ethan has to find his way as a single parent and I loved seeing how he grew in this.

Sadie and Brody were adorable but I feel the author pinned their characters down very well. Children who had to deal with the loss of a parent.

This story will take readers on the truest journey of how to let go but still remember and to trust that God has still has a happy future planned.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming read about fresh starts, losses, family dynamics, grief, blended families, and finding love again. Trisha and Ethan, having lost a spouse and raising their child as a single parent, have returned to Redemption for a fresh start. Trish's and Ethan's paths cross at first at her in-laws' café and then at their children's school when their kids get in a conflict. The Other Side of Goodbye is a great read. I enjoyed Trisha and Ethan's story as they have some fears, struggles, and obstacles to overcome while learning important lessons along the way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alyssa Amey Madjeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tremendous story taking a look at grief and how it feels when you’re starting to move on.

Tisha has lost her husband Chase in an accident, and she and her daughter Sadie are moving to his hometown in Alaska to be near his family. Both Tisha and Sadie are having a hard time letting go and dealing with their grief. Always in her path, it seems, is Ethan, a single dad who lost his wife to cancer and a childhood friend of Chase’s. Sadie and his son Brody are like oil and water- at least on the surface. After a fight at school throws the four of them together for counseling, emotions and feelings swirl into a complicated mess of heartache, flirtation, anger, and maybe even happiness. Both Ethan and Tisha have to wrestle with the weight of grief and memories, working to discover what life looks like in the future without the person they originally thought. But maybe they can trust that God is the master of picking up the pieces and building something new.

I absolutely loved Sadie and Brody in this story. What a delight they were! I liked how their grief wasn’t glossed over. It’s so interesting how everyone bears grief in different ways. This story is truly beautiful. If you’ve recently gone through loss, this one might be a tough one to read, but with a little bit of distance, I think this book would be a comfort.

I received a complementary copy of this book from Sunrise Publishing. I was not asked to leave a positive review. My opinions are my own.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Christian romance about losses and second chances.
Tisha Bindford, a widow and mom to seven year old Sadie, has returned to Redemption, Alaska. This is the home of her deceased pilot husband and it’s also the place where they fell in love. Now Tisha wants Sadie to know her father’s parents and all about his childhood.
Whom she never expected to turn her life upside down, is Ethan McGuire. He’s the brother of her husband’s best friend. He too has lost his spouse, has a young boy dealing with his mother’s death, and is a helicopter pilot.
Sadie is conflicted with the attraction she has to Ethan. Both are dealing with the losses and the effects it’s had on their children. Can they take that step into more than friendship? Will it be wrong to give love a second chance?
This was a story about family, hope, new beginnings, taking chances, faith and second chances in life and love. Paraphrasing the author, it’s a story about replacing grief with hope, love, faith and a new future.
Looking forward to the next story in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Joni Truex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching and moving story set in Redemption, Alaska. Inspiration, beautiful scenery, and wonderful characters make this book worth the read.This book was provided by the author and publisher for me to read. The opinions expressed here are my own thoughts.

[MJSH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not realize that there is a prequel about Tisha and Chase before reading this book. For some reason, knowing that there is a prequel of their love story made me sadder when Tisha's grief unfolded in this book. There is a lot of grief - Tisha losing her husband, her daughter Sadie losing her dad, Ethan losing his wife, and his son Brody losing his mom - but the grief was not suffocating or overwhelming. I appreciated that both Tisha and Ethan had wonderful marriages before the untimely deaths of their spouses. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Ethan's marriage to Adeline. Ethan was a brave, selfless pilot made for rescue and protection. Tisha was a warm, sweet baker trying to hold on to memories of her husband and fearing the unknown. Brody and Sadie were fun typical seven year olds who provided moments of insight and cuteness.
I enjoyed hanging out with Tisha at her in-laws' cafe and getting to know Ethan's family at their log resort. Redemption, Alaska is a welcoming, small town winter wonderland and I expect to revisit soon.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Sunrise Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

[Priscila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi McCahan was one of my favorite finds of last year. I must admit I was a bit nervous to start this book, having finished the prequel and realizing who the FMC was going to be for this novel, but I shouldn't have. I was intrigued to follow Tisha's story, and it was a joy to get to know Sadie. The author brought to life this whole community at Redemption, and it reminded me why I love small towns, with their close-knit friendships and undeniable support for each other. This is a story of resilience, deep love, and opening up to new opportunities while tastefully dealing with the topic of grief for both grown-ups and kids.

“You know,” he said with a small smile, “you sure do have a soft spot for men who rush into danger.” [...] “Maybe,” he said, his expression turning serious, “it’s because you see their brave, generous hearts.” The words settled deep, wrapping around the aching parts of her soul.

Ethan McGuire was definitely a mystery, and I was hooked on their story from their meet-cute. I loved the deep roots both he and Tisha have in this town, and how supportive their respective families are with them and the kids. There were truly so many moments I loved in this book, like Ethan's patience and unending love toward his son, Brody, or his excitement regarding the basketball games (despite it being rec league, lol), as well as all his sweet gestures with Tisha (the last one with the flowers was positively heart-melting).

If you love Christian Contemporary Romance, this book has it all: a tight-knit, resilient community, a second chance at love for both main characters, supportive families, kids' antics, and a thread of faith that ties it all. You can't go wrong with this one, and now I'm really excited to follow the series with Luke's story. ~ 5 stars!

Many thanks to #SunrisePublishing for the complimentary copy of #TheOtherSideOfGoodbye. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are given voluntarily.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the prequel to this book, I knew the beginning of this story would be sad. Life has to go on and what better place for Tisha and her daughter, Sadie, to get a fresh start than the place Chase loved and where Tisha and Chase fell in love - Redemption, Alaska.

Ethan McGuire is a retired coast guard pilot who is trying to raise his 8 year old son, Brody, alone after the tragic death of his wife. Kids are tricky, and Brody is not happy to be in Redemption. He is surrounded by family, but he misses his friends and he misses his mom.

Tisha and Ethan get thrown together after their children have an incident in school. The first meeting after this incident is not pretty. Everyone is on edge and defensive. But I believe this incident was by design, not coincidence. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Two people who are still reeling from loss while also trying to raise their children had more in common than they realized.

Loss is a big topic in this story, but even more so is the healing that comes from properly grieving and letting others in, but more importantly allowing God to heal them. A second chance at love for these two seems improbable, but not impossible. It was hard not to cry at times while reading this special story. It was obvious the author poured true heart into this story and it bled off of the pages. Faith was paramount to the healing process and was also a big part of this story.

This new series is going to be fantastic. I am already in love with the town of Redemption, and its community. The town's name is perfect for those looking to heal.

Thank you to Sunrise Publishing for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelly Bridgewater · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Other Side of Goodbye by Heidi McCahan tells the story of two individual people that have lost their spouses and now are single parents. While the romance does focus on the two characters moving forward and learning to open their hearts to someone else again, I wanted more of the grieving process for the two main characters. Yes, it was hinted at, and there were aspects of the story that show they were struggling with moving on, but it really did not stop them from moving into a relationship with each other. I believe, Sadie, the daughter, of the heroine, had a more realistic reaction the first time she saw the hero and heroine kissing. Then she quickly changed her tone because Mom asked her to. As someone who has lost a parent, it still hurts, and I would have a hard time bringing another father to my life if my mother chose to marry again. Even though it has been ten years since he died. As for the plot, it was okay since it centered around their relationship. Overall, The Other Side of Goodbye by Heidi McCahan does show a couple moving on from their dead spouses, but personally, I wanted to see more of the hurt and doubt as they moved forward.

I received a complimentary copy of The Other Side of Goodbye by Heidi McCahan from Sunrise Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

[Joan Arning · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't want to miss this sweet story of second chances set in Redemption, Alaska! Widow Tisha and her seven year old daughter, Sadie, have moved to Redemption to start a new life near Tisha's parents-in-law where she will bake pies for their cafe. Widower Ethan, a retired Coast Guard pilot, and his eight year old son, Brody, have returned to his hometown of Redemption to start a new life without their wife and mother. Outspoken Sadie and Brody immediately have a conflict at school which leads to Ethan discovering that his son can't read. I loved how the parents worked together with their children and their school problems plus making room in their hearts and families for someone new. Ethan was such a sweetheart! I recommend The Other Side of Goodbye to others. I received a complimentary e-book of The Other Side of Goodbye from the publisher. This is my honest opinion.

[Deena Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, heartwarming story!

Heidi McCahan tackles some tough situations in her new book, and she does so with grace and compassion.

Both Tisha and Ethan have suffered great loss. The death of a spouse is unimaginable, and being a single parent in the midst of grief is overwhelming.

When their children get into a situation at school the two of them reluctantly come together to help Sadie and Brody learn to get along. It would help if the adults could get along as well!

I can’t begin to imagine living through something like this. Each character struggles in unique ways, and letting go and moving forward become the major themes.

I enjoyed my first Heidi McCahan novel and I’m looking forward to reading more as the series continues.

I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited. Highly recommend.

[Spineless In AZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single parents have a lot to navigate, and widows / widowers with young children, even moreso. I feel like 'chess pie' was the perfect bonding agent between Tisha and Ethan as they tested the waters of attraction after loss. After all chess is difficult, but taking a new step when God lights the way sounds simple, like 'it's just pie.' The author did a beautiful job introducing us to equally invested characters who have lost someone but still bear the responsibility of raising the kids left behind. I also learned more about coastal hazards in Alaska, happy to report that the setting plays a big part in the story. It's a beautiful start to the series and I can't wait to read more from Ms. McCahan.
Thank you to Sunrise Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jeanloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Other side of Goodbye author Heidi McCahan artfully weaves a story of loss and love.

Tisha Binford returned to Redemption, Alaska to help her daughter, Sadie, feel a connection to her father in the wake of his death.

Helicopter pilot Ethan McGuire returned to Redemption after losing his wife to cancer to try and give his son, Brody, the same kind of childhood that he enjoyed.

When their kids get in trouble to school Tisha and Ethan are tasked with helping the kids learn to work together and get along. Neither Tisha nor Ethan counted on the feelings that would develop between them.

I related to the struggles that the characters faced while dealing with their grief. The author did a great job exploring the ways that grief looks different for each person. While Ethan was ready to move on, Tisha had to make the choice between staying stuck in her grief or moving forward through it.

I’m looking forward to the rest of this series and more books by this author.

I received an arc of this book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief and loss, healing and more are delicately and realistically handled. Growth after grief is a large part of the novel. Within those obstacles, parenting becomes difficult while balancing needs for restoration of life. It's an emotional journey for the characters and reader alike. The frozen town in deep winter houses interesting and supportive citizens.

The only negative for me was reading the pequel, forming attachments to those characters and then the angst of knowing tragedy prematurely ended that lovely happily-after.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pie lady serves up a slice of perfection in this book. All of the talk of pies will leave you drooling and probably add a couple of pounds!

Ethan and Tisha are both recently widowed and have relocated to Redemption with their kids. Both of the kids are struggling at school with each other and reconciliation isn't as easy since both families are struggling with their grief.

This book was a quick read with wonderful characters and filled with faith, family and food. Definitely a recipe for a great book!

Thanks to Sunrise Publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Heidi]

I'm so excited for small-town romance fans to read this! And if you've been with me since the beginning of my author journey, you'll probably recognize the heroine Tisha...

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in the Redemption is Trisha and Ethan’s story of second chance. Children, tragedy and family all entwine to make this book with in-depth characters one you won’t put down.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start to this new series is so good and I absolutely loved it. The prequel had me in my feels and then when I started this book I just knew it was gonna be so good. I don’t want to spoil this book but you’re gonna be in a real treat when you read this. Now I can’t wait til the next book in the series. This author has become a favorite for me.

[Kate Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! There aren’t very many books out there that can make me tear up but this one did. The emotions were real and relatable. Can’t wait to read the next one!