Next Time

Two strangers. One bar. One hour that changes everything. The night engineer Maddie Cole and lawyer Nate Jacobs find themselves in the same place with an hour to kill, a spark ignites. Maddie's fierce determination to succeed in a male-dominated field captivates Nate. His quiet steadiness kindles something in her guarded heart. But they're both married with children. And in 1970s Toronto, anything more than friendship would mean social and emotional carnage. As their professional paths continue to cross, what begins as admiration deepens into something neither can ignore. When one storm-swept night forces them together and resolve crumbles, they face the question that will define both their lives: is a soulmate worth destroying everything you've built? Book 2 of the Maddie & Nate Series — a trilogy of standalone novels following the same two protagonists across three parallel timelines at entirely different life stages. Each book is complete and can be read independently; publication order is recommended. Quantum physics serves as structural metaphor, not science content. Not time travel. Features authentic portrayal of women in STEM during the 1970s, meticulous period detail, and an unflinching examination of duty versus desire. The most morally complex book in the series. Awards: Finalist, 2026 PenMasters Global Award for Literary Excellence (Best Cross-Genre Book). For readers of Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah, and Kate Atkinson. Contains explicit sexual content and themes of infidelity (adult readers 18+).