USA Best Book Awards Finalist What Love Leaves Behind Releases March 24
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AUGUSTA, Ga. - Californer -- Author Marian L. Thomas announces the release of her highly anticipated women's fiction novel, What Love Leaves Behind, available March 24, 2026. A finalist in the USA Best Book Awards, the novel is gaining attention for its emotionally powerful exploration of love, loss, motherhood, identity, and the hidden truths that shape family.

Blending emotional storytelling with compelling family drama, What Love Leaves Behind begins with two newborns, two families forever changed, and one decision that will echo for years to come.

When a young mother dies in childbirth, nurse Etta Harris feels an immediate and undeniable connection to the baby girl left behind. She believes the child, Storm, is meant to be hers. Across the hospital, Darren Johnson faces an unthinkable future after losing his wife while welcoming his newborn son, Isaiah, into the world. As the years unfold, the lives of these two children — and the families shaped by that night — become intertwined in ways no one could have predicted.

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This emotional fiction novel explores themes of grief, healing, resilience, and the enduring power of love, asking a powerful question: What happens when the truth meant to protect you becomes the very thing that could break you?

"Some stories stay with you long after you've written the final page," said Thomas. "This is a story about the quiet decisions that shape our lives and the love that remains, even in the face of loss."

To celebrate the release, Thomas will host a series of Barnes & Noble book signing events across Georgia, giving readers the opportunity to meet the author and receive signed copies.

Upcoming Barnes & Noble Book Signing Events

March 28, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Augusta Mall, Augusta, GA

April 4, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
The Forum at Ashley Park, Newnan, GA

May 9, 2026 — 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Oglethorpe Mall, Savannah, GA

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What Love Leaves Behind will be available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats through major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Spotify, and other online booksellers.

About the Author

Marian L. Thomas is a women's fiction author known for writing emotionally rich stories that explore love, loss, resilience, and the complexities of human connection. Her work centers on the defining moments that shape lives and the enduring power of hope and healing.