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Beyond the Blue
Numbers rule Dr. Mei Sharpe’s life. She has no husband, one friend, two daughters, and three random meetings with the same woman within four weeks. Once is chance, twice is coincidence, but upon the third meeting, even Mei in all her empirical rigidness must admit that perhaps the universe is giving her a nudge. A nudge that lands her directly in the path of Lieutenant Morgan Kelly—an affable, charming detective for the Sheriff Department’s brand-new cold case team working down the hall from Mei’s morgue.
More golden retriever than hard-boiled detective, Morgan is determined to pull the asocial widow out of her shell. As the icy scientist warms to her cheerful new friend, an irrepressible chemistry develops, and Mei begins to realize she’s perhaps a different number on the Kinsey scale than previously considered.
As Mei and Morgan struggle with guilt and grief, drama and desires, Mei finds her scientific austerity is no match for the universe and its nudges toward the startling revelation of what her heart really wants.
More golden retriever than hard-boiled detective, Morgan is determined to pull the asocial widow out of her shell. As the icy scientist warms to her cheerful new friend, an irrepressible chemistry develops, and Mei begins to realize she’s perhaps a different number on the Kinsey scale than previously considered.
As Mei and Morgan struggle with guilt and grief, drama and desires, Mei finds her scientific austerity is no match for the universe and its nudges toward the startling revelation of what her heart really wants.
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Published August 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 12, 2022
'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher (BellaBooks) in exchange for a honest review'
**'What makes for a really good writer is that they love writing -- where everything can nourish with their storytelling like a new word, the dictionary, an encounter, a book even a phrase learned...'
An auspicious read! (4.5stars!)
A rich and an enchanting romantic love story that tells the tale of an attraction between two people that is so deep that they both needed to realize being committed to their relationship is better for the long haul because in truth their bond & Love can surely be one sweet ride. The narrative approach of 'BEYOND THE BLUE' do encompasses everything a reader looks for in a story whether a debut or seasoned:- it's well paced, has a steady tone, suffused with many moments of amusing sense of humor, very good character development, a host of different friendships & family dynamics, spectacular storytelling, very good sexual chemistry, intimate & intense interaction plus even great dialogue.
This story is the guide on how to really write an age-gap premise and tell it enticingly good -- where all readers would Love it.
Furthermore, an utterly compelling drama with this undercurrent of family complications and past traumatic experiences that is at it's core, 'BEYOND THE BLUE' is definitely a brilliant, alluring and well written story.
It's also an absorbing story that will keep readers involved and glued to each sentence, chapter and paragraph until the very end.
A highly recommended book!
**'What makes for a really good writer is that they love writing -- where everything can nourish with their storytelling like a new word, the dictionary, an encounter, a book even a phrase learned...'
An auspicious read! (4.5stars!)
A rich and an enchanting romantic love story that tells the tale of an attraction between two people that is so deep that they both needed to realize being committed to their relationship is better for the long haul because in truth their bond & Love can surely be one sweet ride. The narrative approach of 'BEYOND THE BLUE' do encompasses everything a reader looks for in a story whether a debut or seasoned:- it's well paced, has a steady tone, suffused with many moments of amusing sense of humor, very good character development, a host of different friendships & family dynamics, spectacular storytelling, very good sexual chemistry, intimate & intense interaction plus even great dialogue.
This story is the guide on how to really write an age-gap premise and tell it enticingly good -- where all readers would Love it.
Furthermore, an utterly compelling drama with this undercurrent of family complications and past traumatic experiences that is at it's core, 'BEYOND THE BLUE' is definitely a brilliant, alluring and well written story.
It's also an absorbing story that will keep readers involved and glued to each sentence, chapter and paragraph until the very end.
A highly recommended book!
April 17, 2022
4.50 Stars. This was a wonderful read! This is another book that I read a while ago, when I was recovering from surgery, that I’m just catching up writing a review for now. While I took short notes so I would remember the books and what I wanted to mention in my reviews, this book didn’t require any notes as it was very memorable and one of my favorite romance that I have read so far this year. Add in the fact that this was a debut book and I think Bella has discovered another great author is O’Shea.
This ended up being an ice queen, age-gap romance. I’m a little blasé about age-gap romances. I’ve read so many, in both sapphic and het fiction, that I’m pretty used to them and they don’t really catch my attention anymore unless it is something major. This book the gap was 20 years, I believe, and while that is big, the characters seemed so made for each other that I kept forgetting there even was one. I know while some people love age-gaps, others clearly don’t, but I think this book is such a good romance that I would not want it being an age-gap to cause anyone to miss out.
The older main character is an ice queen, but I’ll give a warning that she does melt pretty fast. I like my ice queens a little icier, but I love the characters in this book so much, Mei (the ice queen) included, that it did not bother me one bit. One of the most recent books I’ve read, had a great premise, with excellent writing, but the characters did nothing to get into your heart which these character did almost immediately. That other book was such a disappointment which shows what a difference a book makes with good characters. This is a debut and while the writing was good, it felt pretty average to me. But in the end, I would always pick a book like this, over something beautifully written but that had mediocre or unlikable characters.
Not only did O’Shea nail the cast of characters, but she did a fantastic job on this toaster oven romance. It was such a great romance that it made my heart feel full. I enjoyed everything including the little get to know you moments, the dates, and of course the chemistry and great connection that kept building more and more in front of your eyes. It was all very well done and if O’Shea is writing romance this good as a newbie, I can only imagine what could be instore for us in the future.
I really enjoyed this book and I seriously considered giving it 5 stars, but there were two main issues that stopped me. I felt at times the pace was a little off, which is not that surprising for a debut book. There were some parts that really slowed and O’Shea took her time with, but others seemed to move too fast. The ending especially seemed like maybe some parts where edited out as there were some loose ends that were not completely tied up and other things that needed more time. It just seemed a little bit rushed for my personal tastes. When you have such a good book, you need to let everything have time to really come together.
The last issue for me was the HP reference. In the year 2022, there really is no excuse for putting HP in a book about LGBTQ+ characters. Look, I get the whole separating artists from their art thing, and honestly I’m struggling with this too. I love fantasy so I enjoyed the books and still have them and the movies on Blu-ray, but I sure am not going to wear a Slytherin T-shirt to a Pride march. I honestly feel like I have seen more HP references in LGBTQ+ books in the past year or two, than I have since the HP books came out and I don’t understand it. I don’t want to get preachy here but authors need to do better and if they miss it than editors need to step-up. We can’t keep hurting members of our community over something that doesn’t ever even need to be in a book in the first place. I do want to mention that the HP reference was in my early ARC copy so I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that it never made it to the actual book release.
TLDR: An excellent age-gap romance that was actually one of the better romances I have read in 2022. I often talk about the amazing track record that Bella has in finding debut authors and with O’Shea, they have proved it again. If her debut is this good, it makes me so excited to read her future releases. The book did have a little pacing issue, and I wish the ending had more time to breath, but still the story is great and this is an easy one for me to recommend.
A copy was given for me for a review.
This ended up being an ice queen, age-gap romance. I’m a little blasé about age-gap romances. I’ve read so many, in both sapphic and het fiction, that I’m pretty used to them and they don’t really catch my attention anymore unless it is something major. This book the gap was 20 years, I believe, and while that is big, the characters seemed so made for each other that I kept forgetting there even was one. I know while some people love age-gaps, others clearly don’t, but I think this book is such a good romance that I would not want it being an age-gap to cause anyone to miss out.
The older main character is an ice queen, but I’ll give a warning that she does melt pretty fast. I like my ice queens a little icier, but I love the characters in this book so much, Mei (the ice queen) included, that it did not bother me one bit. One of the most recent books I’ve read, had a great premise, with excellent writing, but the characters did nothing to get into your heart which these character did almost immediately. That other book was such a disappointment which shows what a difference a book makes with good characters. This is a debut and while the writing was good, it felt pretty average to me. But in the end, I would always pick a book like this, over something beautifully written but that had mediocre or unlikable characters.
Not only did O’Shea nail the cast of characters, but she did a fantastic job on this toaster oven romance. It was such a great romance that it made my heart feel full. I enjoyed everything including the little get to know you moments, the dates, and of course the chemistry and great connection that kept building more and more in front of your eyes. It was all very well done and if O’Shea is writing romance this good as a newbie, I can only imagine what could be instore for us in the future.
I really enjoyed this book and I seriously considered giving it 5 stars, but there were two main issues that stopped me. I felt at times the pace was a little off, which is not that surprising for a debut book. There were some parts that really slowed and O’Shea took her time with, but others seemed to move too fast. The ending especially seemed like maybe some parts where edited out as there were some loose ends that were not completely tied up and other things that needed more time. It just seemed a little bit rushed for my personal tastes. When you have such a good book, you need to let everything have time to really come together.
The last issue for me was the HP reference. In the year 2022, there really is no excuse for putting HP in a book about LGBTQ+ characters. Look, I get the whole separating artists from their art thing, and honestly I’m struggling with this too. I love fantasy so I enjoyed the books and still have them and the movies on Blu-ray, but I sure am not going to wear a Slytherin T-shirt to a Pride march. I honestly feel like I have seen more HP references in LGBTQ+ books in the past year or two, than I have since the HP books came out and I don’t understand it. I don’t want to get preachy here but authors need to do better and if they miss it than editors need to step-up. We can’t keep hurting members of our community over something that doesn’t ever even need to be in a book in the first place. I do want to mention that the HP reference was in my early ARC copy so I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that it never made it to the actual book release.
TLDR: An excellent age-gap romance that was actually one of the better romances I have read in 2022. I often talk about the amazing track record that Bella has in finding debut authors and with O’Shea, they have proved it again. If her debut is this good, it makes me so excited to read her future releases. The book did have a little pacing issue, and I wish the ending had more time to breath, but still the story is great and this is an easy one for me to recommend.
A copy was given for me for a review.
February 5, 2022
Letting go.
This is a good romance debut that had me more emotionally invested in the characters than I anticipated and I don't think I'd be forgetting it for a while. I cried. But I would like to clarify that the angst came only towards the end, and the bulk of the book was pleasant.
One of the characters, Morgan, is a true joy to get to know. The author aptly describes Morgan in the blurb as a "golden retriever" because she's friendly, cheerful and helpful and is basically a ray of sunshine. Mei is very much the opposite and there's a bit of "melting the ice queen" trope here and an age-gap between them. I really enjoyed the times when they're together because their chemistry is good and Morgan brings Mei out of her shell. But while a lot of their couple interaction is delightful, the story isn't light. Mei is a widow who's unable to let go of her dead husband while Morgan has abandonment issues and there are underlying problems in the relationship that they either choose to ignore or leave undiscussed until they have to.
Morgan is a police lieutenant and Mei is a medical examiner so they are colleagues who each contribute to crime solving. Their jobs are interesting but the cases doesn't take up many pages because this is a romance-first book.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a good romance debut that had me more emotionally invested in the characters than I anticipated and I don't think I'd be forgetting it for a while. I cried. But I would like to clarify that the angst came only towards the end, and the bulk of the book was pleasant.
One of the characters, Morgan, is a true joy to get to know. The author aptly describes Morgan in the blurb as a "golden retriever" because she's friendly, cheerful and helpful and is basically a ray of sunshine. Mei is very much the opposite and there's a bit of "melting the ice queen" trope here and an age-gap between them. I really enjoyed the times when they're together because their chemistry is good and Morgan brings Mei out of her shell. But while a lot of their couple interaction is delightful, the story isn't light. Mei is a widow who's unable to let go of her dead husband while Morgan has abandonment issues and there are underlying problems in the relationship that they either choose to ignore or leave undiscussed until they have to.
Morgan is a police lieutenant and Mei is a medical examiner so they are colleagues who each contribute to crime solving. Their jobs are interesting but the cases doesn't take up many pages because this is a romance-first book.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2024
Beyond the Blue on the surface is an age gap, Ice Queen romance. The Ice Queen is Dr. Mei Sharpe, the county medical examiner who lost her husband of thirty years only two years ago. Lieutenant Morgan Kelly is a detective who recently transferred to the county to start up a cold case division. Morgan lives her life out loud with a loveable exuberance.
For a debut novel, O’Shea has delivered an extraordinary story filled with humour and witty banter overlaying dark psychological trauma and loss. We are casually handed bits and pieces of Morgan’s past. The subtlety O’Shea employs to drop her plot line bombs is pure genius.
The other major plot line is Mei’s late in life coming out while still grieving her loss. It is a realistic look at a person being one thing for the majority of their life and when given the opportunity to explore and grow they find their true self.
The story is refreshing in its originality and depth. We experience more darkness than is expected in any romance yet it is handled with a soft touch. All of this makes Beyond the Blue a must read novel on everyone’s list.
I received an advance review copy from Bella Books and NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For a debut novel, O’Shea has delivered an extraordinary story filled with humour and witty banter overlaying dark psychological trauma and loss. We are casually handed bits and pieces of Morgan’s past. The subtlety O’Shea employs to drop her plot line bombs is pure genius.
The other major plot line is Mei’s late in life coming out while still grieving her loss. It is a realistic look at a person being one thing for the majority of their life and when given the opportunity to explore and grow they find their true self.
The story is refreshing in its originality and depth. We experience more darkness than is expected in any romance yet it is handled with a soft touch. All of this makes Beyond the Blue a must read novel on everyone’s list.
I received an advance review copy from Bella Books and NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2022
All of the stars!
“Beyond the Blue” by T.J. O’Shea was a lovely age-gap, toaster-oven romance that I enjoyed tremendously! I was really impressed that this was a debut novel, I don’t know if O’Shea has written other things but she definitely has talent when it comes to romance.
The characters were interesting and fun and had me right from the beginning. There’s a lot of humor and heart and there are parts that will tug on your heartstrings. Both main characters, Mei and Morgan, are dealing with issues that have an effect on their relationship and I loved how they grew separately and together to move on from those issues.
This is a romance where the romance is the star of the show, there’s not a mystery or exciting action going on. So, it’s always nice when the authors remember the main characters don’t live in a bubble and add more to the story to keep it interesting. Mei and Morgan’s family and friends were a benefit that added drama to the story in a way that felt natural.
I enjoyed this so much I was actually quite disappointed there wasn’t a back catalog of books from O’Shea to read. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for a follow up from her.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Beyond the Blue” by T.J. O’Shea was a lovely age-gap, toaster-oven romance that I enjoyed tremendously! I was really impressed that this was a debut novel, I don’t know if O’Shea has written other things but she definitely has talent when it comes to romance.
The characters were interesting and fun and had me right from the beginning. There’s a lot of humor and heart and there are parts that will tug on your heartstrings. Both main characters, Mei and Morgan, are dealing with issues that have an effect on their relationship and I loved how they grew separately and together to move on from those issues.
This is a romance where the romance is the star of the show, there’s not a mystery or exciting action going on. So, it’s always nice when the authors remember the main characters don’t live in a bubble and add more to the story to keep it interesting. Mei and Morgan’s family and friends were a benefit that added drama to the story in a way that felt natural.
I enjoyed this so much I was actually quite disappointed there wasn’t a back catalog of books from O’Shea to read. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for a follow up from her.
I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2022
The longer you read the story is getting better and better. The complexity of the MCs reveals itself throughout the story. The MCs have to grow to get their HEA.
The book was well written and I enjoyed it very much. Recommend.
The book was well written and I enjoyed it very much. Recommend.
April 15, 2022
I'm going to be watching out for future books by this author.
Ice Queen, doctor sharp and lieutenant kelly are the 2 main characters in this storyline. It's a story about finding love and excepting yourself. It's another age gap (love them) storyline. Both characters are interesting and captivating. And who doesn't love an ice queen in a story.?
I've given ‘beyond the blue’ a 4/5
Ice Queen, doctor sharp and lieutenant kelly are the 2 main characters in this storyline. It's a story about finding love and excepting yourself. It's another age gap (love them) storyline. Both characters are interesting and captivating. And who doesn't love an ice queen in a story.?
I've given ‘beyond the blue’ a 4/5
January 10, 2023
I shouldn’t have enjoyed this book as much as I did. The plot is thin and the writing needs work. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many probably-involuntary anacolutha in a single book. But – and it’s a major but – both Morgan and Mei stole my heart. They’re both so lovely and layered they make up for everything else. Sure, Morgan is a bit too good to be true at times but she has her own flaws and issues. And Mei is fascinating, as a woman and as a character. And it’s not just them, the secondary characters are excellent as well.
Since I said I’d note when the boy wizard books are mentioned, I have to say they are here, not in any way necessary to the story. However, if you’re in the mood for a heartwarming book, this could be the one for you. Definitely a promising debut. 3.5⭐️
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
May 9, 2022
4.5 stars
I loved reading this romance. The writing was supple and flowed easily. The main characters were very different people, not only in age and experience but also in character. Both characters were written in a way that I felt connected to them. Morgan is a sweetheart, spontaneous, a very lovable person with a difficult past that still troubles her and abandonment issues. Mei is a lot older and a bit like the opposite of Morgan. She is reserved and a bit on approachable. She is not very social and sometimes has difficulties reading people. When Morgan and Mei met Mei was still grieving her husband. Morgan who felt an instant connection. I especially liked they way Morgan took her time to build a relationship with Mei. I also liked the humour and dialogue in the book. I will certainly read this book again sometime. Recommend.
I loved reading this romance. The writing was supple and flowed easily. The main characters were very different people, not only in age and experience but also in character. Both characters were written in a way that I felt connected to them. Morgan is a sweetheart, spontaneous, a very lovable person with a difficult past that still troubles her and abandonment issues. Mei is a lot older and a bit like the opposite of Morgan. She is reserved and a bit on approachable. She is not very social and sometimes has difficulties reading people. When Morgan and Mei met Mei was still grieving her husband. Morgan who felt an instant connection. I especially liked they way Morgan took her time to build a relationship with Mei. I also liked the humour and dialogue in the book. I will certainly read this book again sometime. Recommend.
March 4, 2025
What an adorable book. I loved this one. The perfect Romance balm for these hard days.
Lt Morgan Kelly, head of cold cases, connects with Dr Mei Sharpe, the Medical Examiner who works down the hall. Mei is a widow who mostly keeps to herself but somehow can’t resist young, charismatic Morgan. They have crazy good chemistry and are a fun pair to watch fall in love. Grief and family dynamics play a big part in their story as well. All around, an excellent read. I listened to the audiobook and Cindy Kay, the narrator, helped to voice all the warm fuzzies and the tough moments equally well. Found it on Hoopla.
Lt Morgan Kelly, head of cold cases, connects with Dr Mei Sharpe, the Medical Examiner who works down the hall. Mei is a widow who mostly keeps to herself but somehow can’t resist young, charismatic Morgan. They have crazy good chemistry and are a fun pair to watch fall in love. Grief and family dynamics play a big part in their story as well. All around, an excellent read. I listened to the audiobook and Cindy Kay, the narrator, helped to voice all the warm fuzzies and the tough moments equally well. Found it on Hoopla.
September 21, 2025
Mei Sharpe is a widow after the death of her husband of 30 years. It’s been two years but she is just going through the motions and not really living. When she meets Lt. Morgan Kelly, Mei can’t deny that some outside forces may be at work. Morgan is tasked with heading up a newly formed cold case division, which is housed in the basement where Mei works in the morgue. The two women form a friendship after they begin having lunch together every day and start spending time together outside of work. There is something there that goes beyond friendship, if Mei can only find the listen to her heart.
This is TJ O’Shea’s debut novel, and I am looking forward to seeing more from her. I really enjoyed it and the characters were wonderful. They are both strong women who have suffered so much grief. I always love reading a story where characters overcome pain to find happiness. I appreciated that Mei’s gay panic didn’t last too long. It’s understandable that a woman who had never thought she would be attracted to a woman and who was married to a man for so long, would freak out a bit when she realized she had feelings for a woman. It didn’t take her long to move past it and for that I was happy.
Morgan is really a ray of sunshine who comes into Mei’s life and lights it up. Mei is very proper and serious while Morgan loves to laugh and have fun, which is something Mei didn’t realize was missing in her life. Everyone needs a Morgan, someone who is goodness personified, someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously and someone who shows care and concern to everyone she encounters.
There have been so many wonderful debut novels released lately in the lesfic community. I am going to add TJ O’Shea to the list of impressive debut authors who we can expect great things from in the future. I highly recommend giving this book and this new author a read.
ARC provided by Bella Books via NetGalley for an honest review
https://sapphicbookreview.com/review/...
This is TJ O’Shea’s debut novel, and I am looking forward to seeing more from her. I really enjoyed it and the characters were wonderful. They are both strong women who have suffered so much grief. I always love reading a story where characters overcome pain to find happiness. I appreciated that Mei’s gay panic didn’t last too long. It’s understandable that a woman who had never thought she would be attracted to a woman and who was married to a man for so long, would freak out a bit when she realized she had feelings for a woman. It didn’t take her long to move past it and for that I was happy.
Morgan is really a ray of sunshine who comes into Mei’s life and lights it up. Mei is very proper and serious while Morgan loves to laugh and have fun, which is something Mei didn’t realize was missing in her life. Everyone needs a Morgan, someone who is goodness personified, someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously and someone who shows care and concern to everyone she encounters.
There have been so many wonderful debut novels released lately in the lesfic community. I am going to add TJ O’Shea to the list of impressive debut authors who we can expect great things from in the future. I highly recommend giving this book and this new author a read.
ARC provided by Bella Books via NetGalley for an honest review
https://sapphicbookreview.com/review/...
August 9, 2022
Beyond the Blue by TJ O’Shea, narrated by Cindy Kay
Dr. Mei Sharpe is a successful medical examiner who likes to keep to herself. Widowed a few years ago with two adult daughters, she dedicates herself to her job and doesn’t care if her reputation is of an icy scientist. Morgan Kelly is a cold case detective with unwavering optimism and good spirits who struggles with her past. When both women meet while working on a murder case, an unlikely friendship forms which eventually develops into something deeper…
When you have a detective and a medical examiner as lead characters in a book, you expect a mystery. However, even though there are some cases discussed and some investigation involved, this is 90% a romance.
Beyond the Blue is O’Shea’s debut novel and even though it has a few issues typical of a debut, it’s a good opposites-attract, age-gap, coming-out, ice queen romance. I personally found some pacing problems and some important things that happened off-page but overall, it was an entertaining read.
This was the first time I’ve listened to Cindy Kay narrating. She did a very good job overall and she definitely improved my enjoyment of the story. 3.5 stars.
Length: 10 hours, 16 minutes
Dr. Mei Sharpe is a successful medical examiner who likes to keep to herself. Widowed a few years ago with two adult daughters, she dedicates herself to her job and doesn’t care if her reputation is of an icy scientist. Morgan Kelly is a cold case detective with unwavering optimism and good spirits who struggles with her past. When both women meet while working on a murder case, an unlikely friendship forms which eventually develops into something deeper…
When you have a detective and a medical examiner as lead characters in a book, you expect a mystery. However, even though there are some cases discussed and some investigation involved, this is 90% a romance.
Beyond the Blue is O’Shea’s debut novel and even though it has a few issues typical of a debut, it’s a good opposites-attract, age-gap, coming-out, ice queen romance. I personally found some pacing problems and some important things that happened off-page but overall, it was an entertaining read.
This was the first time I’ve listened to Cindy Kay narrating. She did a very good job overall and she definitely improved my enjoyment of the story. 3.5 stars.
Length: 10 hours, 16 minutes
March 11, 2022
A beautiful story indeed. The book is well written and the events are so carefully planned that it was very moving. There were moments that really touched me, my kindle copy is full of highlights. The scenes were so emotionally and beautifully written, I had to save them for reminiscing purposes. I am a suck for angst and emotional wreckage and I tell you, this was such a dose, I am still blissful. Chapter 17 ruined me and Chapter 21 built me whole again.
All in all, the book was tremendously heart touching. The connection between the characters was written to perfection. What i loved the most was how honest-to-life their flaws were also written. Damn work of art. The first part of the book is cheerful and cute and sweet and the middle part wrecked me, the final part, was such a sweet close-up. One could bow to it. That serenade was so sweet and the dance afterwards…. truly beautiful.
On the other note, I still didn't get the 3rd revelation, I don't know if i missed but, I am still curious. Second note, between the first and middle part, it got slightly slow.. you know the process when characters fall into a routine that one would do without, BUT after you read the WHOLE book, the can you finally see the purpose of it. But that is an after-effect.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
All in all, the book was tremendously heart touching. The connection between the characters was written to perfection. What i loved the most was how honest-to-life their flaws were also written. Damn work of art. The first part of the book is cheerful and cute and sweet and the middle part wrecked me, the final part, was such a sweet close-up. One could bow to it. That serenade was so sweet and the dance afterwards…. truly beautiful.
On the other note, I still didn't get the 3rd revelation, I don't know if i missed but, I am still curious. Second note, between the first and middle part, it got slightly slow.. you know the process when characters fall into a routine that one would do without, BUT after you read the WHOLE book, the can you finally see the purpose of it. But that is an after-effect.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
December 28, 2022
4.5 - I loved the characters and humour. Morgan especially was delightful (do people like her actually exist??), and I really enjoyed the complete departure from the standard tough, badass cop persona - I found her bubbly, sweet, almost puppy-like personality endearing AF.
It's a nice change of pace to see the realistic challenges and work that go into complex romantic relationships, rather than the usual sweeping storybook romances (those are great too, don't get me wrong), so bonus points for that and some cultural diversity too! This felt more like a real life relationship than most.
As for the audio version, I'm not a huge fan of this narrator (tbh, I'm just not crazy about her voice), but her performance was fair.
It's a nice change of pace to see the realistic challenges and work that go into complex romantic relationships, rather than the usual sweeping storybook romances (those are great too, don't get me wrong), so bonus points for that and some cultural diversity too! This felt more like a real life relationship than most.
As for the audio version, I'm not a huge fan of this narrator (tbh, I'm just not crazy about her voice), but her performance was fair.
February 21, 2022
I believe this book is TJ O'Shea's first foray into the wonderful world of romance and the author did an amazing job. I consider this as much a story about finding love as a story of letting go.
Morgan seems a bit too good to be true, loyal to a fault, super cheerful, and ready to help everyone. She is a really fun character to get to know, she has a depth you don't often see in these sunshine-type characters. Mei is older and a bit colder, I wouldn't call her an ice queen per se, but compared to Morgan she is one. Actually, anyone is an ice queen compared to Morgan. They meet by chance, but for Morgan, it's clear from the get-go Mei is "it". Together they are a seemingly perfect match. Morgan coaxes Mei out of her shell and their chemistry is great. I'm not the biggest fan of age gap and this is a significant gap, 20 years, but the issues I normally have with this trope don't exist in this book. They are each other's match. Morgan suffers from abandonment issues from her troubled past, a past she sugar-coats by the way. And Mei has a hard time of letting go of her dead husband, not the man per se maybe, but at least the rituals, the everyday normalcy.
This book is very moving and the author wrote some beautiful lines about loss and dealing with it. And the void, but also what comes after the void of losing someone, opening up again for love, and to start fully living again.
This book is really moving and I am happy we are taken on a long journey with the characters.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
Morgan seems a bit too good to be true, loyal to a fault, super cheerful, and ready to help everyone. She is a really fun character to get to know, she has a depth you don't often see in these sunshine-type characters. Mei is older and a bit colder, I wouldn't call her an ice queen per se, but compared to Morgan she is one. Actually, anyone is an ice queen compared to Morgan. They meet by chance, but for Morgan, it's clear from the get-go Mei is "it". Together they are a seemingly perfect match. Morgan coaxes Mei out of her shell and their chemistry is great. I'm not the biggest fan of age gap and this is a significant gap, 20 years, but the issues I normally have with this trope don't exist in this book. They are each other's match. Morgan suffers from abandonment issues from her troubled past, a past she sugar-coats by the way. And Mei has a hard time of letting go of her dead husband, not the man per se maybe, but at least the rituals, the everyday normalcy.
This book is very moving and the author wrote some beautiful lines about loss and dealing with it. And the void, but also what comes after the void of losing someone, opening up again for love, and to start fully living again.
This book is really moving and I am happy we are taken on a long journey with the characters.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
August 29, 2022
This was an incredibly moving story.
January 5, 2023
I am giving this all 5 stars because i kept asking myself why an ending of happily ever after often gives a fulfilling end to a romantic story. This felt good, yes there were the misunderstandings, rift, breakup, getback, uncertainties etc. that is usually inluded with genres of this type but i guess the delivery was just done well. So well i found myself asking why fantasies of happily ever after which are so not realistic supply their kind of fulfilment. Is reality so morose...so uncertain to be fulfilling?
Anyways, enjoyable read....looking for some romantic books without happily ever after henceforth....i think i need a balance
Anyways, enjoyable read....looking for some romantic books without happily ever after henceforth....i think i need a balance
February 6, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It features a large age gap of 20 years, and some heavy topics within. Both Mei and Morgan were really interesting characters in their own right, and I really liked getting to know them throughout the novel as well as seeing their developmental arc as individuals and as a pair.
I'm a big romantic at heart and I really liked how this story played out initially in the way they meet numerous times and have that spark of connection. I thought this was written really well. The trauma they both struggle with - Mei with the grief of losing her husband of many years and Morgan's childhood and orphanage - were compelling aspects to this novel. It was an enthralling read.
I found the pace slowed down near the end of the novel and I didn't particularly enjoy the relationship angst at the end. Regardless, it's a great read and a fantastic debut. I look forward to reading the next book by T.J. O'Shea.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a big romantic at heart and I really liked how this story played out initially in the way they meet numerous times and have that spark of connection. I thought this was written really well. The trauma they both struggle with - Mei with the grief of losing her husband of many years and Morgan's childhood and orphanage - were compelling aspects to this novel. It was an enthralling read.
I found the pace slowed down near the end of the novel and I didn't particularly enjoy the relationship angst at the end. Regardless, it's a great read and a fantastic debut. I look forward to reading the next book by T.J. O'Shea.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2022
Impressive debut which reads like the work of a seasoned author. I enjoyed this slow burn, melting the ice queen romance. Morgan is almost too good to be true and Mei has blind spots she needs to work on but overall a solid read. The police procedural, mystery lover in me wished there were more cold case details for Morgan and more career focus for Mei. This is of course, a romance and their personal lives and Morgan's dogged efforts to pull Mei out of her solitude took precedence.
A great romance and an author to watch
A great romance and an author to watch
July 13, 2022
I had a book hangover after this. It was really good. Complete romance. Age gap. Doctor/Cop. Meant-to-be vibe. Author did a really good job of building a relationship and showing you all of the moments (which made it a little long but I actually liked that for this reason). Shared experience of grief gave it a weightier feel. Believable angsty moments. Sex, but quick and non-gratuitous. Mostly moving emotion forward. Unique characters. This is one of my favorites of the year so far.
September 27, 2024
Really enjoyed this, even though very formulaic. Characters good - especially Morgan, with excellent back characters. Recommended. Excellent 2nd time round!
May 23, 2022
What an excellent debut! It hits a lot of hard topics and does it beautifully. I pray this is just the beginning for O’Shea.
February 4, 2022
Dr. Mei Sharpe is still unable to let her husband and their life go two years after his death. She tells herself she is, if not happy, at least content with her new life as a widow. A chance meeting with Morgan Kelly on a remote road on a blizzardly night after Mei has a flat tire intrigues her because Morgan is funny, intelligent, and kind enough to stop to help a stranger. Then they meet again in her morgue and Mei learns Morgan is the head of the new cold case department. They must meet a third time by chance before Mei acknowledges that she is drawn to the tall handsome lieutenant. Morgan has known since their first meeting that she is intrigued by the beautiful doctor.
O’Shea has written a book about an older woman falling for a younger woman and her journey to letting go of her grief and dead husband while the younger woman has a journey of her own to make to resolve her abandonment issues. The writing is very good, the dialogue witty and sometimes laugh-out loud funny. The pace of the book doesn’t sag in the middle like so many others and the conflict is real. The ending is believable and is, of course, expected.
If you like to read an author’s debut novel, this one that is not to be missed. If you love intelligent, believable characters, pick this book up. If you like a really well written book, this book is for you.
My thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for an eARC.
O’Shea has written a book about an older woman falling for a younger woman and her journey to letting go of her grief and dead husband while the younger woman has a journey of her own to make to resolve her abandonment issues. The writing is very good, the dialogue witty and sometimes laugh-out loud funny. The pace of the book doesn’t sag in the middle like so many others and the conflict is real. The ending is believable and is, of course, expected.
If you like to read an author’s debut novel, this one that is not to be missed. If you love intelligent, believable characters, pick this book up. If you like a really well written book, this book is for you.
My thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for an eARC.
February 15, 2022
Definitely 5 star from me.
Great love story. Great and different. Different because instead of a long slow burn with a quick ending...while you wonder what happened next. In this story, the romance is in the first 20% of the story and the remainder is how they are together as lovers. How do they deal with the age gap and how do they each resolve their past loss and grief. How do the family members accept the relationship. It is a very thoughtful, interesting and warm story. I loved the sex scenes. They were very hot without describing every minute detail.
I enjoyed all the characters, and felt they were all very natural and the dialog insightful.
I understand this is O'Shea's first published story. Amazing...hopefully there will be many more.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Great love story. Great and different. Different because instead of a long slow burn with a quick ending...while you wonder what happened next. In this story, the romance is in the first 20% of the story and the remainder is how they are together as lovers. How do they deal with the age gap and how do they each resolve their past loss and grief. How do the family members accept the relationship. It is a very thoughtful, interesting and warm story. I loved the sex scenes. They were very hot without describing every minute detail.
I enjoyed all the characters, and felt they were all very natural and the dialog insightful.
I understand this is O'Shea's first published story. Amazing...hopefully there will be many more.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 19, 2022
Mei Sharpe is a widow who works as a medical examiner, she is a brisk, no nonsense woman that most are intimidated by. She runs into the new cold case Lieutenant Morgan Kelly several times, each time Mei is drawn to Morgan in way that’s new to her. Morgan is kindness personified and finds joy in the little things like blue slushies and dinosaur bones. As they spend more time together Mei realizes she may have more than friendly feelings for Morgan but there are also many obstacles blocking their path to happiness.
If you need to sleep anytime soon, I would not recommend starting this book until you can finish. I finished this book in one sitting finishing around 2am. It left a smile on my face and my heart happy. These two MCs are lovable and relatable I felt like they were real people with equally real emotions. They were adorable together and I loved their story, it was very unique and extremely engaging. There is bit over a year spanning the beginning and end of the book and I almost always feel like the passage of time in most books is not handled well, and provides lots of opportunities for plot holes. T.J. handled this beautifully and I felt like the jumps in time were very well written and felt natural. The side characters were all great and each added a little something to the story. I loved the intelligence and wittiness in the characters’ interactions with each other. My only issue is that it’s over and I already want to read it again. Would love to see a sequel with Lara or a prequel with Reyna and Ruiz! T.J. O’Shea, please write more books so I can read them!!
If you need to sleep anytime soon, I would not recommend starting this book until you can finish. I finished this book in one sitting finishing around 2am. It left a smile on my face and my heart happy. These two MCs are lovable and relatable I felt like they were real people with equally real emotions. They were adorable together and I loved their story, it was very unique and extremely engaging. There is bit over a year spanning the beginning and end of the book and I almost always feel like the passage of time in most books is not handled well, and provides lots of opportunities for plot holes. T.J. handled this beautifully and I felt like the jumps in time were very well written and felt natural. The side characters were all great and each added a little something to the story. I loved the intelligence and wittiness in the characters’ interactions with each other. My only issue is that it’s over and I already want to read it again. Would love to see a sequel with Lara or a prequel with Reyna and Ruiz! T.J. O’Shea, please write more books so I can read them!!
March 3, 2022
I was captivated from the beginning of the read. The setting and the characters were so well written. The emotional story of two women dealing with past and current issues was a draw for me. Lieutenant Morgan Kelly presented herself as one of the most dynamic characters I have read in a very long time. Morgan is a survivor of a childhood that you would not wish on anyone. I just wanted to pull her in and give her a big hug. Dr. Mei Sharpe appears to have it all together but when you look closer, that is not the case. What these women do is interact with each other in a way that they both need. Mei and Morgan are very good at their jobs and that gives them some sense of comfort but they need more. I also appreciated Morgan's best friend, Ruiz and Mei's best friend Shanvi. Mei's daughters were quite the characters with some very funny interactions and dialogue. Lovely age gap romance.
ARC provided by Bella Books via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bella Books via NetGalley
September 7, 2024
Detailed score: 3.75/5
A really lovely read and a great effort for a debut author.
The characters are well rounded, it is show not tell (for the most part), the side characters have depth (again, for the most part), and the love story was plausible and also had depth.
I had a little bit of a struggle working out who was talking at times. And there were a few moments ts where I thought it was trying to hard to be deep.
But overall it was a better than average lesrom and a fantastic debut. Definitely hope this author writes another book or 6!!
A really lovely read and a great effort for a debut author.
The characters are well rounded, it is show not tell (for the most part), the side characters have depth (again, for the most part), and the love story was plausible and also had depth.
I had a little bit of a struggle working out who was talking at times. And there were a few moments ts where I thought it was trying to hard to be deep.
But overall it was a better than average lesrom and a fantastic debut. Definitely hope this author writes another book or 6!!
March 24, 2025
3 25⭐️ I listened to the audio on this one. I liked Megan best. Mia was hung up on her ex husband’s death throughout the book. I enjoyed the cop/medical examiner backgrounds of each mc. I read/listened to all of OShea’s books now and she’s become a favorite author.
August 27, 2022
Wow! This book surprised me for good!
I love the feeling when I can't put the pages down plus I don't want the book to finish.
And it was exactly what happened with this story.
I love romance, relationship's connections and life's challenges. This book delivered the whole package and hooked me from page 1
5 Stars
I love the feeling when I can't put the pages down plus I don't want the book to finish.
And it was exactly what happened with this story.
I love romance, relationship's connections and life's challenges. This book delivered the whole package and hooked me from page 1
5 Stars
August 19, 2022
I will say at the outset that I really struggle with large age gaps (my comfort level is no more than 10 years)*. And the prevalence of the Age Gap trope in sapphic romance makes me really uncomfortable. This is a very large age gap--20 years. But I seem to be in the minority here, because, for some reason a majority of y'all--or at least a very vocal minority--really like this trope. I mention this because my irritation with Age Gap romances will definitely color my critical lens, and I want to be up front about that bias.
Mei is still struggling to move on from the tragic death of her husband. Able to hide in his larger-than-life shadow. She's always held people at a distance, including her own children, and that worked out okay for her when Allan was alive. But now that he's gone (and has been gone for two years) her best and only friend and her daughters are concerned for her. Which is one of the reasons she agreed to spend Valentine's Day with her oldest daughter, and why she is stranded on the road with a flat tire in a blizzard. But that flat tire changes her life, though she doesn't know it immediately. Because Mei is saved by a chivalrous stranger who offers to change her tire for her. But when she begins to see this woman over and over, even Mei can't ignore the fact that some greater power may be at play.
The chivalrous stranger is Morgan Kelly, who really strives to bring joy and light and kindness to the world. And against all odds, she's been successful in her career, climbing the police force ladder. And she's immediately attracted to Mei when they meet. And then when they meet again and Morgan didn't realize it was the same woman. And despite her best friend's warnings that Mei is straight and despite the enormous disparity in their ages, Morgan pursues Mei anyway.
What TJ O'Shea gets right is her characters (except for one point I'll get into below). They are wonderful and complex and really f*cked up. And they both have to deal with grief and trauma and communication. And despite my aversion to the differences in their ages, I did want them to work out.
But this is where Beyond the Blue loses stars for me:
- Morgan's best friend is Sergeant Ruiz. She's a wonderful friend and a great character, but I, as a latina, was really put off by O'Shea's insistence that Ruiz always sprinkle some Spanish into her dialogue. But like only a word. And always a different word. Okay, so I do do this, but only with certain people and only in certain situations. I don't do this with everyone--and I'm definitely less inclined to do this around people who don't speak Spanish. It felt, to me, that O'Shea was just trying too hard to make Ruiz be in touch with her latine roots.
- This is a toaster over romance. I love toaster oven romances. Mei has to do a lot of mental work to get to a place where she understands that she's attracted to Morgan. And after the second time they kiss, said kiss turns into a weekend sex-a-thon, which seems a little out of character for a woman who didn't know she was even sexually attracted to women and who'd only had sex with her husband and didn't particularly enjoy it. And Mei is not the freest person. She's closed off and rigid and is just really uptight. I have a hard time believing any of that would happen realistically. But, okay, let's say I can suspend my disbelief here and can believe a 0-60 in 4 seconds sex weekend is possible, what I can't believe is either of them, but especially Mei, would consent to a two-hour afternoon delight with Morgan on a work day. I'm sorry. That's so out of character for not only Mei but Morgan as well and I have to wonder why? The story didn't need this. And ugh! It's frustrating to me.
- Okay, so back to the age gap, which I've already admitted by aversion to. But given Morgan's issues, this age gap was complicated by mommy issues and that made it infinitely worse and ew for me.
I'm not surprised so many readers have received this novel well, especially for a debut novel. I did enjoy many parts of this novel, but it didn't come together well enough for me to give it really high praise.
* Just want to add that I don't struggle with this when it involves real-life couples who are consenting adults. Maybe because I don't see age gap in the majority of FF couples that I encounter. But I feel like 1 in every 4 novels (not a real metric LOL) I read involves an age gap.
Mei is still struggling to move on from the tragic death of her husband. Able to hide in his larger-than-life shadow. She's always held people at a distance, including her own children, and that worked out okay for her when Allan was alive. But now that he's gone (and has been gone for two years) her best and only friend and her daughters are concerned for her. Which is one of the reasons she agreed to spend Valentine's Day with her oldest daughter, and why she is stranded on the road with a flat tire in a blizzard. But that flat tire changes her life, though she doesn't know it immediately. Because Mei is saved by a chivalrous stranger who offers to change her tire for her. But when she begins to see this woman over and over, even Mei can't ignore the fact that some greater power may be at play.
The chivalrous stranger is Morgan Kelly, who really strives to bring joy and light and kindness to the world. And against all odds, she's been successful in her career, climbing the police force ladder. And she's immediately attracted to Mei when they meet. And then when they meet again and Morgan didn't realize it was the same woman. And despite her best friend's warnings that Mei is straight and despite the enormous disparity in their ages, Morgan pursues Mei anyway.
What TJ O'Shea gets right is her characters (except for one point I'll get into below). They are wonderful and complex and really f*cked up. And they both have to deal with grief and trauma and communication. And despite my aversion to the differences in their ages, I did want them to work out.
But this is where Beyond the Blue loses stars for me:
- Morgan's best friend is Sergeant Ruiz. She's a wonderful friend and a great character, but I, as a latina, was really put off by O'Shea's insistence that Ruiz always sprinkle some Spanish into her dialogue. But like only a word. And always a different word. Okay, so I do do this, but only with certain people and only in certain situations. I don't do this with everyone--and I'm definitely less inclined to do this around people who don't speak Spanish. It felt, to me, that O'Shea was just trying too hard to make Ruiz be in touch with her latine roots.
- This is a toaster over romance. I love toaster oven romances. Mei has to do a lot of mental work to get to a place where she understands that she's attracted to Morgan. And after the second time they kiss, said kiss turns into a weekend sex-a-thon, which seems a little out of character for a woman who didn't know she was even sexually attracted to women and who'd only had sex with her husband and didn't particularly enjoy it. And Mei is not the freest person. She's closed off and rigid and is just really uptight. I have a hard time believing any of that would happen realistically. But, okay, let's say I can suspend my disbelief here and can believe a 0-60 in 4 seconds sex weekend is possible, what I can't believe is either of them, but especially Mei, would consent to a two-hour afternoon delight with Morgan on a work day. I'm sorry. That's so out of character for not only Mei but Morgan as well and I have to wonder why? The story didn't need this. And ugh! It's frustrating to me.
- Okay, so back to the age gap, which I've already admitted by aversion to. But given Morgan's issues, this age gap was complicated by mommy issues and that made it infinitely worse and ew for me.
I'm not surprised so many readers have received this novel well, especially for a debut novel. I did enjoy many parts of this novel, but it didn't come together well enough for me to give it really high praise.
* Just want to add that I don't struggle with this when it involves real-life couples who are consenting adults. Maybe because I don't see age gap in the majority of FF couples that I encounter. But I feel like 1 in every 4 novels (not a real metric LOL) I read involves an age gap.
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