#BookReview #TheEmptySideofOurBed #AJourneyThroughLoveLossandMovingForward #BillBeckett

 

Synopsis: The Empty Side of Our Bed
by Bill Beckett

When Bonnie died, so did the life we built together. The laughter, the routines, the quiet glances across a crowded room that said, “I’ve got you.” One moment I was her husband, her caregiver, her partner of decades. The next, I was a widower, walking through our house like a ghost, surrounded not by her absence but by the traces of her in every room.

The Empty Side of Our Bed is a raw, deeply personal memoir about what happens after the funeral, after the casseroles, after the sympathy cards stop arriving. It is about waking up in the middle of the night and instinctively reaching for a hand that is no longer there, and about trying to be strong for your children when you can barely stand on your own. Grief here is not a clean arc of healing. It is a relentless tide that crashes and recedes without warning.

The story begins in the immediate aftermath of Bonnie’s passing, when I take a road trip with my son Billy, more zombie than man, trying to put distance between myself and the hospital bed where I watched her take her last breath. What follows is a year of unraveling, and slowly, thread by thread, a quiet reweaving.

I explore the brutal bureaucracy of death, the surreal pain of “firsts” without her, the cruel math of identity, and the way memory can both comfort and wound. I write about how work fell apart, how friendships changed, and how even family could not always reach me. I share the awkward, guilt-filled steps of dating again, and how love after loss is never a clean slate but something written over grief that never fully fades.

This is not just a chronicle of sorrow. It is a story of stubborn, ordinary resilience, of how children, grandchildren, therapy, and even a magic show or two can pull you back from the edge. It is about learning that the empty side of the bed may always be there, but you can still find a way to rest beside it.

Written for anyone who has lost a partner, this memoir refuses tidy resolutions or false uplift. Instead, it offers companionship and a voice that says, “I know this place. I have been here too. You are not alone.”

Link to purchase - https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Side-Our-Bed-Journey/dp/B0FK25R39C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=140X81OZX9WOP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8oLyI8GLbFneCgPRdBhNY_fHM0LxH3URfWaEUHbHE-XGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.sy5uUHduF0kzOjVggQxJ0oG6e0Q0M8wtrbAL64kFMuM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+empty+side+of+our+bed&qid=1754918070&sprefix=%2Caps%2C531&sr=8-1#customerReviews

Why I wrote the book"

I wrote The Empty Side of Our Bed to keep my wife, Bonnie, alive on the page...to honor the kind, spirited, and unforgettable woman she was. I wanted to tell this story through a lens that is rarely shared, that of a widower learning how to live in a world that feels permanently off-balance. But above all, I wrote it for those who are grieving, especially those who wake to an empty side of the bed. My hope is this story serves as a companion for those navigating loss, reminding them they are never truly alone.

Author Bio & Credentials – Bill Beckett

Bill Beckett is a widower, father of three, and grandfather whose writing is rooted in emotional honesty and lived experience. After spending decades in the IT industry, including a distinguished period working in digital forensics, he turned to writing as a way to process grief and reconnect with purpose following the death of his wife, Bonnie.

His debut memoir, *Love, Family, Cancer*, chronicled Bonnie’s three-year battle with cancer and the love that sustained them through it. The book was praised by readers for its sincerity, warmth, and vulnerability, and received a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite.

In *The Empty Side of Our Bed*, Beckett continues that story, exploring what happens after the loss, how grief evolves, how identity is reshaped, and how family remains both an anchor and a reason to keep going. His writing is deeply personal but widely relatable, resonating with readers who seek comfort, solidarity, and meaning through life’s most difficult seasons.

Bill lives in Georgia, where he enjoys storytelling, time with his children and grandchildren, and writing from the quiet corner of a life forever changed by love and loss.

The Empty Side Of Our Bed

Written By Bill Beckett

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews 

First, I want to thank Bill Beckett for providing me with his book so I can bring you this review. 

Bill, words can’t express how truly sorry I am for your loss of your wife Bonnie. Thank you for opening up your heart and sharing your story with us. You both shared an incredible love and were so blessed to have each other. Nobody could ever replace her; she was special and one of a kind. 

Bill Beckett’s Empty Side of Our Bed: A Journey Through Love, Loss and Moving Forward was a very emotional read. It is a follow up from his memoir Love, Family, Cancer. It is a quick read that can be read in one sitting. Warning you may need tissues. 

This book was difficult for me to read emotionally because I am still grieving the loss of my Dad who passed 8 months ago. Like Bonnie was Bill’s person my Dad was mine (well my best friend). Many aspects of the book I could relate to. Some hit me harder than others. For example The ashes in the urn once being his physical body no I will never get over that. I don’t know how Bill stayed so calm but I didn’t.

Intertwined in this book you will find pictures of Bill, Bonnie and their sons (Matthew, Billy and Nathan) cards, and written letters. 

The Empty Side of Our Bed would be perfect for a bereavement group, hospice group, family/friend that passed away, or even a book club.  

#CoverReveal #ThePumpkinPact #CharlieDean #RachelsRandomResources

 

The Pumpkin Pact

Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.

Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.

When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.

Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.

With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?

Purchase Link - https://amzn.eu/d/iAh5Mtx

Follow Charlie Dean on Twitter - https://twitter.com/CharlieADean

#BooksonTour #MySistersOnlyHope #AlisonRagsdale #Bookouture #NetGalley

 

Will you help me become a mother?’ My sister whispers, her hands clasping mine. ‘You’re my only hope…’

When my sister asks me to help her have a child, I already know I will say yes. She has always dreamed of being a mother, and this might be her last chance.

Not long after the embryo is created, my sister is killed in a tragic hiking accident. The grief of losing my best friend is unbearable, but in the days that follow I realize there is a shimmer of hope: I can still fulfill her dream, and bring her baby into the world.

But no matter what I do, I can’t stop thinking about my sister’s last words to me. On the day she died, she said there was something she needed to tell me. And when mybrother-in-law finally tells me what my sister was hiding, I can barely breathe.

My heart breaks as I realize I may not have known my sister at all. But now I know her terrible secret, do I have the strength to be the mother of her child?

An emotional and unputdownable story about what it means to be a mother. Perfect for fans who love Kate Hewitt, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.

Alison Ragsdale writes contemporary women’s fiction novels set in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, her homeland. They are emotionally charged stories about family, love, loss, forgiveness, and finding new ways to happiness despite life's toughest challenges. 

Ragsdale's novels are heart-wrenching tales of family dynamics and relationships, inspired by the extraordinary in the every-day. For more information, previews of upcoming books, and signings, sign up for the Highlanders Club newsletter at www.alisonragsdale.com.

A former marketing executive, originally from Edinburgh, Alison now lives near Washington D.C. with her husband and dogs. She was educated in England and holds an MBA from Leicester University.

For more information on upcoming books go to www.alisonragsdale.com.

 

 

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralisonragsdale

X (Twitter):  https://twitter.com/AlisonRagsdale

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonragsdalewrites/ 

My Sister’s Only Hope

Written By Alison Ragsdale 

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews 

First, I want to thank Alison Ragsdale, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can provide you with this review. 

Heads up you may want to grab a box of tissues before sitting down to read Alison Ragsdale’s latest My Sister’s Only Hope! Alison quickly tugged on my heart strings with this one and had me tearing up. My Sister’s Only Hope was definitely an extremely emotionally powerful rollercoaster ride with a lot of twists and turns you never saw coming. 

I found it appropriate that Alison would dedicate this book to her forever friends that are her sisters!

There was a quote by an unknown person that Alison used in her book that touched me deeply about sisters being like stars, not seeing them but knowing they are always there. I have two sisters who both live in different states that I don’t get to see as much as I would like to. 

Ohh it is a phone call that you never want to get!! My heart instantly ached for Kenzie!! I can relate to her getting a call like that about a relative and feeling all those feels!! 

I love the bond that these two sisters Kenzie and Olivia had. Not to mention that they would do anything for eachother if it meant making eachother happy. 

My Sister’s Only Hope deals with important issues like IVF, fertility issues, grief, etc. Plus, even deep painful hidden secrets of the past. 

Alison’s ending I was kinda shocked by and didn’t see that coming. I was actually routing for another outcome. 

#BookReview #MyDaughtersKeeper #SheilaNorton #BoldwoodBooks #RachelsRandomResources

 

My Daughter's Keeper

You’d know if something was wrong… wouldn’t you? But danger doesn’t always wear a mask – it can hide in plain sight.

After a difficult break-up, my six-year-old Daisy is finally settling into life in two homes. She’s spending more time with her dad, his wealthy and glamorous partner Kirsty, and her new stepsisters, Amelia and Freya. She seems happier. More relaxed. Like she’s finally found her place.

It should be everything I ever wanted for her. So why does it feel like I’m losing her?

Then Daisy confesses something that stops me cold. Something I can’t ignore. That Amelia isn’t kind. Behind closed doors, she’s cruel. Violent even.

Everyone says it’s just normal sibling tension. A bit of jealousy. But the more I try to dismiss it, the harder it becomes to shake the feeling that something is deeply, dangerously wrong.

What would you do if your child told you they were being hurt by someone you trusted? Would you risk everything to protect them – even if no one believes you?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/DaughtersKeeper

Author Bio – 

Sheila Norton lives in Chelmsford, Essex and part-time in Torquay, Devon. She is the author of over 20 novels, covering several different sub-genres of contemporary fiction, including family dramas for Boldwood Books. In 2022 she was the winner of the Romantic Novelists Association’s Christmas/Winter book award with her novel Winter at Cliff's End Cottage.

Social Media Links –   

Facebook: @SheilaNortonAuthor

Instagram: @sheilaann.norton

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SheilaNortonNews

Bookbub profile: @SheilaNortonAuthor

My Daughter’s Keeper 

Written By Sheila Norton 

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank Sheila Norton, Boldwood Books, NetGalley, and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review. 

Sheila Norton is back with another one of her heartfelt reads that had my emotions all over the place with some of these characters. Oh yes! In My Daughter’s Keeper Sheila once again reminded how it is better being single than in a relationship! Seriously, I was livid for Craig’s thoughtful Birthday gesture!! We the readers got to see early on his true colors! My heart went out to Tashe instantly. 

Each book I read most likely has one character that I have a fondness for one reason or another. In this book it was the little girl Daisy. She pulled on my heartstrings hard. Because of a decision Daisy’s Dad decided to make, it now impacts Daisy too-and she is not at all happy with it. I can’t say that I blame her one bit. 

The financial differences between the two families, how he traded up, and how they flaunted it kinda rubbed me the wrong way. I could understand why Daisy and Tashe would feel small next to this family at times. 

The bond between Daisy and Freya was just so adorable and so sweet!! There were many scenes in the book where they both brought smiles to my face. Oh not to mention the ones with the cute doggie Max too!

Sheila discusses very important topics in this book such alcoholism, drunk drivers, selective mutism, gambling, etc. 

Even though I enjoyed the book I felt the storyline dragged on and wasn’t as fast paced as I would have liked. 

 

#Booksontour #AllTheWaysYouSaveMe #MelissaWiesner #Bookouture #Netgalley

 

I stand on the beach and gasp as a wave knocks me over, bringing memories of the night Adam died: the pouring rain, my voice shouting his name. Suddenly, I feel strong arms pulling me from the water. A familiar voice speaks soothing words—and my heart explodes with unspeakable, unbearable hope. I’d know those ocean-blue eyes anywhere. It’s him. It’s impossible. It’s Adam.

Madeline and Adam were high-school sweethearts, and Jason their teasing best friend. The trio did everything together. But one awful night, they lost Adam in a terrible accident.

Ten years later, Madeline and Jason are planning their wedding. They’ll never forget Adam, even though Jason doesn’t like to talk about the past, and happiness feels just around the corner.Until Madeline is saved by a stranger on the beach. As she gazes at his familiar features, she could swear he's Adam. Her Adam.

It’s been ten years since Adam died. And the man says his name is Garrett. He’s kind, but distant.

Maybe Madeline was confused. This handsome stranger saved her life—no wonder she felt close to him. The fact that his eyes, and lips, and dark wavy hair dripping with saltwater are just the same as Adam’s must be a coincidence. Right?

But a single summer can change everything. And as Madeline searches for answers, she’s forced to question everything she’s ever believed: about her own memories, the boy she once loved, and the life she’s supposed to live.

A totally addictive and unforgettable romance with a touch of spice, about the choices we make when it matters most, and how to follow your heart. Anyone who loves Carley Fortune, Colleen Hoover, or Paige Toon won’t be able to put this down!

Perfect for anyone who loves these tropes:

·         High school sweethearts

·         New/old flame

·         Love triangle

·         Rescue romance

·         Small town romance

·         Mistaken identity

About the author 

 

Melissa Wiesner’s mother didn’t allow her to watch much TV as a child and instead, made her play with paint, colorful pipe cleaners, random bits of fabric, and all manner of other crafty things. This set Melissa up for a lifetime of creative pursuits, and it was only a matter of time before things took a bookish turn.

 

A night-owl, Melissa began writing novels when her early-to-bed family retired for the evening. She is the award-winning author of contemporary romantic comedies and emotional women’s fiction. Her work has earned praise from Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly, and has been featured in Women’s World, The Knot, and Book of the Month. Melissa’s novels will soon be translated into a dozen languages. Along with her charming husband and two adorable children, she splits her time between the big city of Pittsburgh, PA and rural West Virginia.

All The Ways You Save Me

Written By Melissa Wiesner 

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank Melissa Wiesner, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW!!! If you were to ask me what my favorite summer read of 2025 is in a heartbeat I would have to say Melissa Wiesner’s All The Ways You Save Me!!! Infact, I would say this book is one of her best written books yet. It combines her emotionally charged storylines with a little bit of suspense to it. The combination of it made for a great read. 

We need to talk about the drop dead spectacular colorful cover design that the graphic department designed. It is absolutely beautiful and so perfected for this story and title! Not to mention eye catching! 

Melissa draws me instantly into her storyline with the intense prologue making you wonder what happened to Adam all those years ago. 

There are multiple plot twists in this book and some are total game changers that will blow your mind!! Some will have you screaming at your kindle hating one specific character. 

Needless to say I fell in love with the book, the characters (well not Jason), the hometown vibe they were in, etc. I am so happy to learn that their story will continue in 2026 in All The Ways You Break Me! You know I must read and review that one as well!