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 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.
________________________________________
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, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Inspirational, Christian, Christian Fiction

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. The Last Mile Between Us, Heidi’s next novel with Sunrise Publishing, releases on May 5, 2026.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun (on an Alaskan cruise) · 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.

[S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would never buy or borrow a book by this dumb bitch who is anti-libraries.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just beyond AI slop.

[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.*

[Kelly L · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author doesn’t support libraries.

[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.

[Scotty Staples · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would never read anything by an author who leverages AI

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Brittany Searfoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being introduced to Tisha and Chase in the prequel, The Light We Almost Lost, I was excited to read more in the Redemption, Alaska series. Here Tisha and her daughter Sadie are on the other side of a heartbreaking tragedy that has occurred in their lives. Ethan is also coping with immense grief, as well as his son Brody. I couldn’t help but get teary eyed multiple times throughout the story as the characters learned to deal with their loss and come through with a renewed sense of hope and looking forward to the future. After coping with the loss of a loved family member myself, it was easy to cry a little, but I was also encouraged. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys inspirational romance, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book for the publisher. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely 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.

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may not like the cold very much, but McCahan makes me want to go to Alaska and just jump into this story! Now I will say it's mostly because of the amazing characters, and only a little bit about the setting itself, but still. If I'm willing to brave the cold and the snow to go there you know it's for a good reason.

Tisha and Ethan are a wonderful couple, and I don't say that lightly. They have baggage, they have things to work out. But together? Yeah they work. They are unstoppable.

The real reason I like their relationship is because they are polar opposites when it comes to dealing with grief, and I really appreciated that McCahan shows that. We have one who keeps the memory of their spouse alive as much as possible, and one who buries it and doesn't talk about it at all. And together? I think they show that while people grieve differently, maybe there is something they can learn from each other and how they are coping. Plus the kids added an extra element to this that I was not expecting, but thoroughly enjoyed.

Readers who are looking for a sweet romance that shows it's ok to have that second amazing romance after the loss of a loved one, will really enjoy this story. I can't wait to dive into book two!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Rebekah Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We learn our best lessons when we have the courage to bounce back from our failures.”

“The Other Side of Goodbye,” is the first book by Heidi McCahan to the series based in Alaska.

Two adults are struggling with hurt and sadness in their past and yet trying to strengthen their relationships with their children.

Can they both find the help they need spiritually and physically to help their kids and see to the need of their own lives?

A really great read. I admit I was a bit skeptical at first but the more I read, the more exciting it became.

[Sherry Deatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I have never read anything by Heide McCahan before and I found that I loved the way she writes. This story was not as predictable as most of this type. I appreciated it that both main characters truly loved the previous spouses. And the spouses were portrayed a wonderful people and they talked about that openly.
I also liked that the child's opinions in the story were treated with respect but the parent did not let that sway her decision for what was best.
I think this series has a great start with this book and I'm anxious to continue it.

[Winnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a small town in Alaska, this contemporary Christian Fiction romance is sweet and wholesome. Both Tisha and Ethan have lost their spouses tragically. They each have a child, and as they return to Redemption, Alaska to start over, they meet each other and don’t immediately click. As they get to know each other better, their relationship begins to change. This is a second chances tale which is a bit formulaic, but I enjoyed it. It’s the first story in a series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from LibraryThing. All opinions are my own.

[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.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this book!
I loved the setting of Alaska, and enjoyed getting to know the characters. There were a few times I felt like I needed a tiny bit more backstory, and I would have enjoyed seeing some more depth to Ethan’s relationship with God. Overall it was a great read, and I’m looking forward to book 2!

[Amy Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the characters and the topic of dealing with grief and figuring out how and when to move on. But the characters move from "I'm not ready" to flirty and "I'm in love with you" too quickly to be realistic. And there's too much focus on kissing. For a "Christian" novel, there is very nominal mention of God and his role in the lives of the characters.

[Jennifer Chastain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this in a couple of days! Both main characters are grieving - they both struggle to let go of the past. Different paths, same journey. Well written and heart warming - there is love after loss.

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book! Beautiful story.