January 16, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Best Mistake Ever By Christy McKellen

Some mistakes are worth making

Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her – she’s desperate. What could go wrong? A lot apparently! Because her sister Delilah has hugely understated her role – the hotel is at risk of closure and she’s promised she can turn it around. Now Bea has to find a way to fly under the radar, get the job done before anyone notices their switch up.

Sounds easy, all Bea has to do is avoid her temporary new boss Jonah. However, that’s a lot harder than she thought. Not only does he have impossibly high standards, he’s also out of this world gorgeous, an ex-rockstar with a chip on his shoulder and he’s watching her like a hawk! So Bea uses her charm to keep him focussed on the job and not her. But by trying to put up boundaries and keep things professional, Bea finds herself seeing the real man beneath the grumpy façade . Yet with so much at stake, she knows she shouldn’t fall for her sisters boss…but then again, it may just be the best unintentional mistake she’s ever made!

Ottilie Oakcroft can’t imagine living anywhere but the village of Thimblebury. Since moving there after her husband’s death, the villagers have welcomed her with open arms, and it’s been a long time since she’s felt this happy. Another reason for the sparkle in her eyes is her blossoming romance with Heath, who showed her that second chances at love can happen.

But when a chance meeting with Heath’s glamorous ex-wife Mila sparks a terrible argument between the pair, and with Ottilie’s patients keeping her too busy to repair the cracks in their relationship, things begin to feel a little shaky. Especially when Simon, a handsome new GP with dark eyes and broad shoulders, arrives in Thimblebury, and Heath shows a jealous side that Ottilie has never seen before…

Ottilie knows how lucky she is to have found Heath but when she discovers that Mila has been secretly visiting Thimblebury she fears the worst. Heath tries to reassure her, but why did he keep Mila’s visits a secret? Did Ottilie make a mistake when she opened her fragile heart or is she letting the hurt from her past stand in the way of their future?

About The Author

My Review

In the second book of the series, we return to the Lakes and follow Ottilie, the nurse. The story resumes shortly after the events of the first book, but it provides enough background on the characters and previous events to be read as a standalone.

Ottilie and Heath are in a relationship, and the narrative explores their ups and downs, featuring some significant twists. Everything seems almost too perfect until it isn’t. Ottilie senses something is wrong but can’t pinpoint it. When she finally discovers the truth, it’s a major plot twist that I don’t want to spoil. The revelation leads to a dramatic upheaval, forcing Ottilie to confront many issues. I enjoyed watching her self-reflect, recognize her tendency to prioritize others over herself, and ultimately stand up for her own needs. It was empowering and relatable at times.

The secondary storyline of Stacey and Simon was heartwarming. I’m really happy for them after all their heartache; they deserve happiness. I appreciated how cautious they were with each other. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Ottilie, the village nurse.

My Rating