Tracks in Time

by Steve McCarthy

Have you ever wondered about a life you almost lived?

Daniel has reached a crossroads in his life. He moves through life as he always polite, kind and unassuming. But he knows he’s missing out. The chances he never took. The doors he never opened.

The people he never met. Then the mysterious Alf appears, and a single decision tilts his life off its ordinary track. Daniel is sent back to revisit key moments in his past relationships, turning points where each decision set the course of his current life.

Maybe this time, he’ll get it right. If only he can find some long-hidden courage to make different decisions this time round…

Will Daniel learn from his past and finally step into the life he’s always wished for? Or will the door remain closed to genuine connection?

A warm, hopeful novel about the moments we miss—and the second chances we never stop wishing for. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle and Claire Pooley.

Readers love Steve McCarthy’s uplifting

"Can't stop reading" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A beautiful story that draws you in" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Amazing first book from this author" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A touch second-chance romance unlike any other" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"remarkably lighthearted while still delivering a story of substantial depth" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2026

About the author

Steve McCarthy is a contemporary fiction author, as well as a landscape, sports & events photographer and podcaster, based in Wiltshire (often found chasing light along Cornwall’s north coast). Whatever the medium, Steve is obsessed with stories—especially the small, everyday moments that change everything.
In his novels, he writes warm, hopeful, heartfelt stories about time, second chances and the lives we almost lived: contemporary fiction that treats ordinary people and their emotions with care, humour and honesty. I love exploring how a single decision—a missed train, a delayed moment, a chance encounter—can ripple through a life.
That same storytelling instinct drives his photography. On the sports and events side, he shoots with energy and empathy—clean, accurate and fast.
His landscape work is slower and more reflective. Drawn to places where weather, tide and terrain collide, and he aims to make images that feel like scenes from a story—prints that bring back not just how a coastline looked, but how it felt to stand there.

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 single, non-linear timeline.
👀 single POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "Letting go kindly still counts as love"

I was initially a little hesitant to sign up for this review. I've got had much luck with relationships in the past so thought I might struggle with someone being given the chance to go back and change things. I'm so glad I took the chance. Instead of upsetting, I found the book to be cathartic, relaxing and reassuring that, whilst I can't literally go back in time to change things, I am having the correct thoughts about the past.

'Tracks In Time' has a wonderfully rich narrative, which is beautifully descriptive without being over the top. The whole book felt almost relaxing and it was so easy to picture everything that was happening, from the canal to the train stations and the stains on the ceiling. I was honestly enchanted.

I really liked the plot. The idea that we could go back and make tiny changes to our past is one that I've always liked. Of course the changes have to be tiny, everyone knows rules of time-travel mean you can't make any major changes! But sometimes the tiny things, saying "yes" instead of "no" have ripples that reach far into the future.

Although this is "just" a fiction story, there's a message to be learned about letting go and allowing the past to remain in the past. Remember the good things and let the bad go.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Tracks in Time’ is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read this year, it’s a sentimental read and it’s impactful but this is what makes it exquisite. The concept of this read was truly terrific and it kept me engrossed in the book. The graphics at the beginning of the chapter are so creative and really add to the experience.

We follow Daniel who meets a old gentleman called Alf who introduces Daniel into going back in time to change how he acted in his previous relationships. Each experience taught Daniel a new lesson and this made Daniel grow into a better person, I love how open he was to change. Its always engaging when a main character has flaws and isn’t portrayed as perfection, it draws me more into the book. The friendship between Alf and Daniel was wonderful and it did make me emotional because their bond was so strong and wonderful. As ‘Tracks in Time’ is more focused on life lessons and growth, there isn’t a character I disliked.

As a whole ‘Tracks in Time’ is a stunning book and it’s definitely a read that’ll stick with you and one you’ll never forget about because I know for certain that this will be a book I’ll never forget. I hope there will a book two because I’d love to know the story behind Alf.
If you’re a fan of character development and books that are emotional with a positive impact, then this is the read for you.

[Anne Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange dreams and Guardian Angel

Another tale by this author which gradually pulls you in. Main character is a man replaying his past life, "meeting up" with his exes in dreams, and being guided by a man called Alf, starts to put right his life, at least in his head. Somehow he ends up with "the one" complete with a nuclear family of boy and girl and we finally get to know who Alf really is. But the kick at the end seems to suggest that the cycle is starting all over again with another youth.
Well written, cleverly thought out and very thought provoking. I understand this author is taking a breather, can't wait for the next book from his pen, or should that be laptop?

[Courtney Kniffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Romance | Romance | Time Travel
Rating: 4.5 stars/5 stars

Do you ever wonder what could have been? If you had just done this or that, then maybe your path in life would have changed? Well this is exactly what happened to Daniel. A simple act of pure kindness allowed him an opportunity to go back and redo some things to find the love he failed to locate in present time. I loved how we got to enjoy the journey of each woman that could have been "the one". With each tried attempt, he learned alittle more about life in general. The ending was amazing and had my grinning from ear to ear.
"To Alf, who listened." 🥲
Definitely worth the read. Would highly recommend.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! Tracks in Time gives us a glimpse of how we could change someone’s future by reliving one day differently. If I were given the chance to handle a regretful situation with someone differently, I would jump at it, and that’s exactly the gift that Daniel has been given. This premise is really neat and how he handled the days the second time around brought tears to my eyes. I loved this book so much and highly recommend it! 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story about Daniel, who finds himself wondering “what if?”. When an act of kindness slows him to go back and redo thins to find his true love, he gets to answer that question. I really enjoyed following Daniel’s journey to finding true love and watching how he grew throughout. This is an inspiring, amazing book, well worth the read.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a LONG time since a book made me emotional, but this one did just that 🥹

I adored the one-to-one chats that Daniel and mysterious Alf had on the canal bench in between each visit to a moment of time in Daniel’s past - this really connected each strand of Daniel’s history for me! 💭

Each time Daniel revisited a “track”, he learnt the true meaning behind why things often don’t turn out the way we hope for, and each time it brought tears to my eyes 🥹

This is the sort of book that really gets you to rethink any regrets you might have about things you could have done differently… As Daniel learns, everything happens for a reason, and guides you to the path you’re truly meant to be on ➡️🛤️

Tracks in Time reminded me to live in the moment, let things go when they are ready to leave, say yes without fear, and feel hopeful that better days are always around the corner ✨