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Next, Love: A second-chance romance novel
Some people survive wars.
Some people survive divorce.
The lucky ones survive both and find each other.Taylor escaped a war but the battle for her mind and heart has just begun. Haunted by PTSD and paralyzed by grief after burying her husband, she returns home to face another devastating truth: her mother is dying. Unable to make decisions or move forward with her life, Taylor exists in emotional survival mode, trapped between the trauma of her past and the uncertain future she’s too afraid to face.
Then she meets her dentist, Jameson.
He’s patient, steady and unexpectedly captivating. Unlike everyone else who pushes her to "move on" or "be strong," Jameson simply offers his presence. No judgment or pressure. Just compassion and a quiet strength that begins to penetrate the walls Taylor built around her shattered heart.
And a quiet humor she hadn't expected.
The problem is, falling in love again feels scarier than surviving the war.
As their connection grows, Taylor is torn between honoring her late husband's memory and embracing the possibility of new love. With her mother’s health declining and her PTSD symptoms threatening to overwhelm her, Taylor must choose to remain a prisoner to her trauma, or find the courage to heal and love again.
Sometimes the hardest battle is the one we fight within ourselves. A powerful story of second-chance romance, healing , and finding love after loss.
Some people survive divorce.
The lucky ones survive both and find each other.Taylor escaped a war but the battle for her mind and heart has just begun. Haunted by PTSD and paralyzed by grief after burying her husband, she returns home to face another devastating truth: her mother is dying. Unable to make decisions or move forward with her life, Taylor exists in emotional survival mode, trapped between the trauma of her past and the uncertain future she’s too afraid to face.
Then she meets her dentist, Jameson.
He’s patient, steady and unexpectedly captivating. Unlike everyone else who pushes her to "move on" or "be strong," Jameson simply offers his presence. No judgment or pressure. Just compassion and a quiet strength that begins to penetrate the walls Taylor built around her shattered heart.
And a quiet humor she hadn't expected.
The problem is, falling in love again feels scarier than surviving the war.
As their connection grows, Taylor is torn between honoring her late husband's memory and embracing the possibility of new love. With her mother’s health declining and her PTSD symptoms threatening to overwhelm her, Taylor must choose to remain a prisoner to her trauma, or find the courage to heal and love again.
Sometimes the hardest battle is the one we fight within ourselves. A powerful story of second-chance romance, healing , and finding love after loss.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2026
About the author
Kat Caldwell
13 books85 followersKat is a novelist and short story writer. She writes everyday and can’t seem to stick to a genre, having dabbled in historical fiction, contemporary family drama and romance, as well as speculative fiction. Kat is the creator of the Pencils&Lipstick podcast, a podcast for writers with author interviews, craft talk and insight into the publishing world. She is also an accredited Author Accelerator fiction book coach. In between conducting interviews for her podcast and writing, you can find Kat traveling the world, reading, or volunteering with her church—always with a cup of cold brew close by.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 13, 2026
I love this take on second chance romance and the very real fears and feelings that can come up. I also appreciated the careful way the author dealt with the character’s ptsd. This was a beautiful story written with great compassion for all the characters. Looking forward to more from this author!
May 21, 2026
Such a cute book. I am so happy I got to be an arc reader of this book. Closed door ramance. I didn't really have many expectations going into this book but I loved it so much.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fun take on "Second Chance" Romance!
🩷 Spicy thoughts and no more!
🦷 Dentist x ✍️ Author
👥 Dual POV
😚 Middle Aged Couple
⚠️ Greif, death, divorce
Overview:
Taylor Kessler survived the horrors of war, leaving behind her home, career, and her MIA husband.
Despite living in an war-stricken country, Taylor has moved back to America with her bubbly and slightly awkward personality. No one would know that she has experienced things that those around her never will. She has written a book describing her life during war, and has been scheduled for a tour around the country! However, Taylor is juggling her mother's decreasing health, healing from grief, a busy book tour, and now ...a hot dentist???
What was supposed to be an ordinary dental check up turned into a visual double-take when Taylor laid eyes on Dr. Jameson Bryant. She didn't have the time or mental capacity for such a hunk of a man... or did she?
Jameson is dealing with a divorce that should've been managed a while ago. In the midst of this change, he is fighting to keep his dental office alive despite the push to sell to a larger corporation. But, meeting Taylor was the lighthearted kindness that Jameson didn't realize he needed- that he craved.
Review:
Taylor and Jameson's story is unique because of their vastly different backgrounds that blend beautifully together. I loved the natural, yet realistic chemistry between the two! There's casual awkwardness that happens when shooting your shot with someone that makes this story relatable. Kat Caldwell adds details to her characters that truly bring them to life.
The characters are introduced like a puzzle in the beginning chapters, but as I kept reading, I was able to envision them more clearly.
Thank you, Kat, for the ARC copy of your sweet story!
🩷 Spicy thoughts and no more!
🦷 Dentist x ✍️ Author
👥 Dual POV
😚 Middle Aged Couple
⚠️ Greif, death, divorce
Overview:
Taylor Kessler survived the horrors of war, leaving behind her home, career, and her MIA husband.
Despite living in an war-stricken country, Taylor has moved back to America with her bubbly and slightly awkward personality. No one would know that she has experienced things that those around her never will. She has written a book describing her life during war, and has been scheduled for a tour around the country! However, Taylor is juggling her mother's decreasing health, healing from grief, a busy book tour, and now ...a hot dentist???
What was supposed to be an ordinary dental check up turned into a visual double-take when Taylor laid eyes on Dr. Jameson Bryant. She didn't have the time or mental capacity for such a hunk of a man... or did she?
Jameson is dealing with a divorce that should've been managed a while ago. In the midst of this change, he is fighting to keep his dental office alive despite the push to sell to a larger corporation. But, meeting Taylor was the lighthearted kindness that Jameson didn't realize he needed- that he craved.
Review:
Taylor and Jameson's story is unique because of their vastly different backgrounds that blend beautifully together. I loved the natural, yet realistic chemistry between the two! There's casual awkwardness that happens when shooting your shot with someone that makes this story relatable. Kat Caldwell adds details to her characters that truly bring them to life.
The characters are introduced like a puzzle in the beginning chapters, but as I kept reading, I was able to envision them more clearly.
Thank you, Kat, for the ARC copy of your sweet story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a good book this has serious issues in it but it also has a good romance too.
Taylor has PTSD from her time in the military and loosing her husband . She has seen more than most people and been through more than most people have been through .
She is at the dentist to get her TMJ fixed for stress relief and she meets Jameson the dentist .
They both feel things but they have both been through so much .
He is also going through things ( he’s going through a messy divorce and never plans to get married again)
This is a good book with serious issues, but it also has a great romance. Taylor has PTSD from her time in the military and the loss of her husband. She has witnessed and endured more than most people. She visits the dentist to get her TMJ fixed for stress relief and meets Jameson, the dentist. Both of them are deeply emotional, but they have both been through immense hardships. Jameson is also going through a messy divorce and has decided not to get married again.
He also has someone who wants to buy his practice so he has that to deal with .
After all of this they find each other in all the chaos . This is a good book and I highly recommend reading it.
Thank you for the arc
Taylor has PTSD from her time in the military and loosing her husband . She has seen more than most people and been through more than most people have been through .
She is at the dentist to get her TMJ fixed for stress relief and she meets Jameson the dentist .
They both feel things but they have both been through so much .
He is also going through things ( he’s going through a messy divorce and never plans to get married again)
This is a good book with serious issues, but it also has a great romance. Taylor has PTSD from her time in the military and the loss of her husband. She has witnessed and endured more than most people. She visits the dentist to get her TMJ fixed for stress relief and meets Jameson, the dentist. Both of them are deeply emotional, but they have both been through immense hardships. Jameson is also going through a messy divorce and has decided not to get married again.
He also has someone who wants to buy his practice so he has that to deal with .
After all of this they find each other in all the chaos . This is a good book and I highly recommend reading it.
Thank you for the arc
July 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this touching and emotional story. Although it is a second-chance romance between a widow and her recently divorced dentist, it is also a heartfelt journey through loss, healing, and learning to embrace life's unexpected blessings.
Taylor is carrying the weight of PTSD from her military service, the loss of her husband, and the impending loss of her mother in hospice care. The author's portrayal of grief felt authentic and deeply moving, capturing both the pain of saying goodbye and the challenge of moving forward. More than once, I found myself tearing up at the raw emotions on the page.
Jameson is facing struggles of his own, including a difficult divorce and threats to the dental practice he has worked so hard to build. As they each navigate their personal hardships, a genuine connection begins to form between them.
What I loved most was how naturally their relationship unfolded. It wasn't built on grand gestures, but on kindness, understanding, and being there for each other during life's hardest moments. Taylor and Jameson felt like real people, and their growth throughout the story made their journey all the more rewarding.
This is a beautiful story about love, loss, resilience, and the hope that can be found when you least expect it.
Taylor is carrying the weight of PTSD from her military service, the loss of her husband, and the impending loss of her mother in hospice care. The author's portrayal of grief felt authentic and deeply moving, capturing both the pain of saying goodbye and the challenge of moving forward. More than once, I found myself tearing up at the raw emotions on the page.
Jameson is facing struggles of his own, including a difficult divorce and threats to the dental practice he has worked so hard to build. As they each navigate their personal hardships, a genuine connection begins to form between them.
What I loved most was how naturally their relationship unfolded. It wasn't built on grand gestures, but on kindness, understanding, and being there for each other during life's hardest moments. Taylor and Jameson felt like real people, and their growth throughout the story made their journey all the more rewarding.
This is a beautiful story about love, loss, resilience, and the hope that can be found when you least expect it.
May 12, 2026
A widow finds another chance at love in an unexpected way with her recently divorced dentist.
- This story navigates the pain and grief of losing your parents as well as a spouse and what that means. It also depicts the difficult journey it can be watching a loved one go through the process of a terminal illness and even more so how challenging it can be to be open to new people that may be coming into your life and the perfect time.
- I loved the way they both had things they needed to work through individually but how Jameson was able to be there for Taylor in her hardest moments even without her coming out and saying so
- this story made me cry from the sheer realistic and devastating way of portraying a grief journey you go through alongside a loved one suffering from terminal illness leading up to and following their passing.
- I loved that they found each other even when they were absolutely not looking for love in that moment.
- This story navigates the pain and grief of losing your parents as well as a spouse and what that means. It also depicts the difficult journey it can be watching a loved one go through the process of a terminal illness and even more so how challenging it can be to be open to new people that may be coming into your life and the perfect time.
- I loved the way they both had things they needed to work through individually but how Jameson was able to be there for Taylor in her hardest moments even without her coming out and saying so
- this story made me cry from the sheer realistic and devastating way of portraying a grief journey you go through alongside a loved one suffering from terminal illness leading up to and following their passing.
- I loved that they found each other even when they were absolutely not looking for love in that moment.
April 14, 2026
Review of an advanced readers copy from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this story. I was invested from the first chapter, it was easy to read and the characters were likable and authentic. The FMC and MMC were cute, funny and loved how they were both nerdy.
However, I found the back and forth with them kind of frustrating. I understand the hesitations that they had and maybe this particular book was more real life matters and less fictional because I think I’m just used to the characters resolving their issues quicker? I also wished that I had more book where they were together. They’re just so cute together and would have loved to have seen a few more chapters or a longer epilogue.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I’d recommend it to anyone. Excited to read more from this author.
I really enjoyed this story. I was invested from the first chapter, it was easy to read and the characters were likable and authentic. The FMC and MMC were cute, funny and loved how they were both nerdy.
However, I found the back and forth with them kind of frustrating. I understand the hesitations that they had and maybe this particular book was more real life matters and less fictional because I think I’m just used to the characters resolving their issues quicker? I also wished that I had more book where they were together. They’re just so cute together and would have loved to have seen a few more chapters or a longer epilogue.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I’d recommend it to anyone. Excited to read more from this author.
May 12, 2026
Good story
First time reading this author. The premise was intriguing, the female main character is a book preservationist and a survivor of a war in Armenia in which she lost her husband and several friends. She has written a memoir and is publicizing it, but at the same time dealing with the imminent loss of her mother. Lots of stress is causing dental issues, which lead her to Dr. Jameson Bryant's dental office.
I found this book to be a bit slow paced for me. Some of the story could have been removed without detracting from it, such as much of the Kian/Amrita detail. On the positive side, I learned about book preservation and also the horrors that the war survivors went through.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
First time reading this author. The premise was intriguing, the female main character is a book preservationist and a survivor of a war in Armenia in which she lost her husband and several friends. She has written a memoir and is publicizing it, but at the same time dealing with the imminent loss of her mother. Lots of stress is causing dental issues, which lead her to Dr. Jameson Bryant's dental office.
I found this book to be a bit slow paced for me. Some of the story could have been removed without detracting from it, such as much of the Kian/Amrita detail. On the positive side, I learned about book preservation and also the horrors that the war survivors went through.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars: I really enjoyed this read! A widow finds her second chance at love with her recently divorced dentist while navigating her mother's death in hospice. Grief, memory, legacy, and morality were all addressed here in thoughtful ways. Taylor and Jameson both had meaningful growth in this story without it being obvious how they would make their relationship work. Caldwell has a special talent for letting both the male and the female lead feel three-dimensional and make layered decisions. I can't wait to see what Caldwell writes next!
I received an ARC from the author; all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I did enjoy my first book by this new author. It’s about two people, Taylor and Jameson, who are from different places inn their lives. Taylor has PTSD due to her service in the military and also she lost her husband. Jameson is a dentist who has issues of his own. Not only is he going through a nasty divorce but someone is trying their best to buy out his practice. So, will they find their second chance at love where they least expect? I recommend you read this story to find out how their journey plays out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Next, Love surprised me with how deeply it made me feel. Kat Caldwell captures the complicated layers of divorce and grief with such tenderness. The journey toward healing is slow, imperfect, and incredibly human—and the second chance love story woven through it made me root for these characters with my whole heart. A beautifully emotional read that reminds you how love can grow again, even after everything falls apart.
Did Not Finish
May 13, 2026no rating.
first and foremost thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy.
For me personally i found the story to have an excellent premise but to be very slow in pace and the writing style to be more telling than showing.
I believe that in a story regarding PTSD and many other emotions we as readers should be able to feel the characters emotions simultaneously.
Thank you again for the opportunity.
first and foremost thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy.
For me personally i found the story to have an excellent premise but to be very slow in pace and the writing style to be more telling than showing.
I believe that in a story regarding PTSD and many other emotions we as readers should be able to feel the characters emotions simultaneously.
Thank you again for the opportunity.
June 5, 2026
This story had so much to process. With the loss of a spouse and a divorce the emotions were high. But Jameson and Taylor were so perfect together and enjoyed each other which made this book a fun read. Kat Caldwell does an incredible job of bringing the sparks of chemistry to life with her words, and I could feel them jumping off the page as I read. This book had me from the dentist’s chair and did not let go until the end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Advance Reader Copy received from Publisher
This book was a fun read! Next, Love addresses heavy topics like grief and PTSD, but balances them with the sweet romance between Taylor and Jameson. The dual POV offers valuable insight into their relationship development and the characters' emotional journeys.
Thank you for the Advance Copy!
This book was a fun read! Next, Love addresses heavy topics like grief and PTSD, but balances them with the sweet romance between Taylor and Jameson. The dual POV offers valuable insight into their relationship development and the characters' emotional journeys.
Thank you for the Advance Copy!
June 1, 2026
This book is marketed as closed door, but the thoughts that both main characters were having were very lustful and just made me overall uncomfortable. I dnf'ed this one at around 50% due to the spicy thoughts and there was also a scene where the two main characters were listening to two other characters have sex and were just waiting for them to walk out.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Memories can bring joy, heartache, thoughts of love, grief, and more. In this heartfelt story, the characters journey through their own experiences to possibly find hope for the future. I hope to read more stories by this author. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was my first book by this author, and I must say I enjoyed and I can't wait to read more of her books.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
At first I wasn't sure what to expect as this was a new to me author. I ended up liking the book. I'm not thrilled with a Dentist being one of the main characters but he was actually a kind man. It's a good book overall.
May 10, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed Next, Love. Not your typical love story, this novel explored the many avenues of love and loss in expected and very unexpected ways. I gave this a five star review for all those reasons and more that the reader will discover through their own journey through the pages.
May 22, 2026
This is my first read by this author. This second chance romance delicately deals with trauma, loss, healing, and the path to moving on. You can't help but being invested in Taylor and Jameson's stories. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I always love a book with more mature MC's. I did feel like the conflict with his ex wife felt... choppy? The back and forth with them was a bit much as well. I liked the overall premise and story
May 9, 2026
Amazing love story! Hated to see it end.
Thank you for the ARC from the author.
Thank you for the ARC from the author.
May 26, 2026
great read, nice slow burn romance.
Read
June 7, 2026DNF at 30%
Review of advance copy received from Author
Next, Love by Kat Caldwell is a wonderful second-chance romance. Tension drips from every page. This novel is filled with fully-realized, unique characters. Caldwell keeps the reader turning pages with internal and external conflict.
The author created a personal “meet-cute.” The dentist’s chair. Taylor Kessler has pain in her jaws. Enter handsome Dr. Jameson Bryant. Both busy professionals. Both with familial trauma. The backstory is rich, but so is the present story. Dr. Bryant is dealing with tough decisions beyond his growing feelings for Taylor.
Next, Love is laced with great lines. If I had to choose one nugget of wisdom, it would be from Taylor’s mom. She tells her daughter: “…just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you don’t need someone at your side, Tay.” (Kindle edition, p- 684-685). I believe Taylor’s mother was telling her daughter to love again. Love is worth it. What better advice could a child receive from a parent.
Caldwell knows how to create story. If you’re looking for a great read, you can’t do better than Next, Love by Kat Caldwell.
The author created a personal “meet-cute.” The dentist’s chair. Taylor Kessler has pain in her jaws. Enter handsome Dr. Jameson Bryant. Both busy professionals. Both with familial trauma. The backstory is rich, but so is the present story. Dr. Bryant is dealing with tough decisions beyond his growing feelings for Taylor.
Next, Love is laced with great lines. If I had to choose one nugget of wisdom, it would be from Taylor’s mom. She tells her daughter: “…just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you don’t need someone at your side, Tay.” (Kindle edition, p- 684-685). I believe Taylor’s mother was telling her daughter to love again. Love is worth it. What better advice could a child receive from a parent.
Caldwell knows how to create story. If you’re looking for a great read, you can’t do better than Next, Love by Kat Caldwell.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews