By Joanna Davidson Politano

Oh. My. Word. This book has earned a spot on my Top 10 Books of 2026 List and we’re not even to the halfway point of the year!

1913: “You can’t marry a man you just met.” 

Merryn doesn’t have the luxury of courting AJ Winthrop. Her employer has died, leaving Merryn as the guardian of little Cecil – and his trust fund. Marrying AJ would give Cecil and Merryn a stable home – and give Merryn validity in the upcoming legal battle. Cecil’s harsh aunt has no intention of losing Cecil or his money. Winning this case will be easy for her – especially because Merryn has amnesia. As Merryn and AJ set off on an adventure to recover her memories, startling fragments of truth are revealed. Was Merryn married before? And who really is AJ Winthrop?

1948: William can’t return home. The war has left him mentally scarred. It would be cruel to burden his wife with the broken monster he has become. Instead, he finds refuge in a cottage on the cliffs of Cornwall, working hard to anonymously send money home to provide for his wife. His lucky break comes when he finds treasure inside the cottage: a stunning painting of a woman that could be worth a fortune. But in order to authenticate the painting, he needs to grapple with his own memories and the written memories of the mysterious Merryn Dunn.

Cons: It was written in present tense. 

I get why the author chose to use present tense, I just don’t like it. Getting into new chapters or scenes was a bit discombobulating as I had to get used to the writing style, but once I did…

Pros: … the book was impossible to put down. Joanna Davidson Politano is a master of prose and the profound. I would reread sections (not just because I was wrestling with present tense) just to soak in the absolute beauty of the writing. And it wasn’t art for art’s sake. When I did put the book down, I felt refreshed. I loved the spiritual depth, the thought-provoking take on memories, and the solid example of marriage. It wasn’t until the final few pages that I realized I just read a parable. True to form, the twist towards the end was breath-taking! The ending also made my eyes get suspiciously misty!

The Bottom Line: An absolutely breathtaking and memorable novel that’s sure to make my Top 10 Books of 2026 List!