The Other Side of Goodbye

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 out: 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 questions: 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.
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Perfect for readers who love:
• 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

292 pages, Paperback

First published 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

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice start to what looks like a promising new series. I really enjoyed the setting, Redemption Alaska, and all the characters. The author did a great job with making me feel like I was really in Alaska, really seeing the beauty of the town.
The romance between Tisha and Ethan is very sweetly done, and the addition of both of their children as characters adds further depth and obstacles to their burgeoning romance. I appreciated how the author sets up future books in the series by introducing Ethan's family throughout the story.
There were times I felt it veered a little bit into melodrama, just because Tisha often made things seem more dramatic than they actually were at times, but overall this was a very sweetly done romance.
If you're looking for a light, romantic read then this book is for you.
*I read an early ARC copy from the author. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does the rest of your life look like when you lose the person you thought you'd be with forever? How can you begin to heal when you also need to guide your child through their journey of grief? Author Heidi McCahan addresses these heavy questions in The Other Side of Goodbye. Tisha Binford and Ethan McGuire are both dealing with painful loss, and McCahan doesn't sugarcoat their hurt and grief. Cautiously, she allows them to work through their overwhelming pain. The emotions are raw as she explores their reluctance to open their hearts to someone new. Slowly, they learn that God may have other plans.

If you believe in second chances, sweet romance, and God's perfect timing, take a trip to Redemption, Alaska. I recommend this poignant story to all who enjoy Christian romance.

I received a complimentary digital ARC from Sunrise Publishing. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my opinions.

[Natalie Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and heartwarming, all at the same time!

I loved this book! From a great setting to realistic characters, from their heartbreak to falling in love, this novel has it all. Romance, suspense, tragedy, and laughter. And so much pie! I don’t typically crave pie, but this novel sure made me want to find a cute little cafe where I could try all the flavors!

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel where a widow and a widower fall in love, but Heidi McCahan did an amazing job showing us their emotions of moving on after great loss.

I can’t wait to return to Redemption, Alaska for the rest of this series.

[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.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very nice book and a nice change from all the other books that I've been reading lately.
Redemption, Alaska, sounds like a great place to live, but also a hard place to come to terms with things as you start a new chapter. Life after loss is a hard chapter for anyone. Tisha and Ethan are no exception. They are two individuals dealing with the challenges of single parenting and dating. While children are typically resilient, they also process grief in their terms and at their own pace.
Change is hard, but the four of them, at their own pace, come to realize that hard doesn't mean "bad." You do have to make the choice for yourself to either keep living or stay stuck in the past.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, feel-good small town Alaska romance between two single parents who both recently lost their spouses. They have a charming meet-cute involving pies only to find themselves called into their children's school because the two can't get along. Lots of dealing with big feelings, trying to heal from grief and a well written learning disability focus on one of the children who is having trouble learning to read. Overall I liked this on audio and enjoyed it but it was a bit too Christian for my personal tastes.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of emotions! And, in all honesty, it was a good story...just not the kind of story I was looking for right now.

I also felt like the story was moving at a good pace, going through the grief stages and then all of a sudden BAM! Tisha and Ethan were in love, happy and moving on. I also wished we had seen Ethan going through a little more of his grief and emotions instead of just one day refusing to be interviewed by his late wife's friend and the next day never mind! I'll do it.

It all just felt a little rushed in the last quarter of the book.

[Naomi Shores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan and Tisha are two broken people learning to heal from the loss of their spouses. The story deals with healing from that loss, being a single parent, loving and helping a child with a learning disability, and coming out on the other side to love again. There is romance, some danger, faith, pie, and a little action in this story. I enjoyed the journey of healing and coming out on the other side to love again.

[Kyliegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written! Tisha, Ethan, and their kids definitely deserved a happily ever after after everything they had been through. I loved watching Tisha and Ethan’s relationship develop. I don’t even want to imagine all the conflicting emotions one would feel while moving on from losing their spouse. Heidi handled this topic with care.

**I was sent a complimentary copy with no expectations for a favorable review.

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book! Beautiful story.