A Song in the Suitcase

When running away becomes running toward something real... Claire Hartley arrives in Tokyo with nothing but a scarlet suitcase and the desperate need to disappear. She's left behind a failed career, a boyfriend who was never really there, and the crushing weight of a life that never felt like hers. In a city where no one knows who she was supposed to be, she finally has the freedom to discover who she actually is. Then she meets Takeshi Yamamoto. A careful, brilliant attorney with guarded eyes and a fountain pen that seems to understand his thoughts better than most people do, Takeshi notices Claire long before she notices him. When he finally speaks to her—a conversation born from observation and risk—something shifts. He offers her a job building software to revolutionize his practice. He offers her partnership. And slowly, carefully, he offers her something neither of them thought they deserved: a real chance at love. But Claire's past isn't done with her yet. When her mother's letter arrives, forcing her to confront what she left behind, Claire must choose between the safety of running away and the terrifying vulnerability of running toward someone. Between the life she thought she wanted and the one she's actually building. In this contemporary romance, two people learn that sometimes the greatest journey isn't about going somewhere else—it's about becoming someone new. Perfect for readers who love emotional, character-driven romances with international settings, second chances, and the transformative power of being truly seen.