February 18, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – Love’s Cure By Judith Keim

Love cures all …

When Emmett Chambers comes to Lilac Lake to replace Dr. Johnson, the town’s GP, Dr. Johnson asks Crystal, owner of the Lilac Lake Café, to show him around. Emmett is the son of an insufferable ambitious politician who is the reason Emmett has chosen the life of a doctor in a small town, away from politics. Just as the relationship between Crystal and Emmett heats up, Emmett’s mother finds out about it and is furious, deeming Crystal unsuitable for the family during her husband’s presidential campaign. Hoping to allow things to cool off, Crystal spends time at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine doing her usual summer gig as an extra in some of the plays put on there. But when she’s called upon to help Emmett’s mother with a problem there, everything changes for all of them.

About The Author

My Review

The little hamlet of Lilac Lake is growing and one of it’s new citizens is Dr. Emmett Chambers, who has come to replace long time family Dr. Johnson who has retired. When Emmett is getting to know the town, the one person he is drawn to and would like to get to know more is Crystal who owns the Lilac Cafe’. Where the towns people like to hang out for their coffee in the morning and lunch. She has grown up in Lilac Lake and everyone knows her past, but she has always been good friends with Whitney, Dani and Taylor Gilford and their GG who treated her like one of her own. They know and love Crystal for who she is and so does her ex husband Nick who is now married to Whitney. As both Emmett’s past and family’s come to light, the two want to be see if they can have a life together, despite the obstacles put in their way. Can love conquer all?

I love Crystal and who she is not who others want her to be and she knows that she has fought to be where she is today, a respected member of the community. She built her business on her own and raised her sister when there was no one else. The people that helped along the way love her. She is one of my fav people in this series. Emmett was attracted to Chrystal from the start, but was he willing to look beyond the purple hair and see her for who she was on the inside. She was willing to do the same for him.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 18 February 2025

The Pucking Proposal By Lauren Landish

When it comes to hockey, unflappable Maple Creek sports reporter Joy Barlowe is privy to a lot of behind-the-scenes locker room activity. Like stumbling upon Dalton Days in all his unabashed glory. After the muscled goalie goes on to score better than he ever has, he proposes Joy take another peek before his next match. It works, and a provocative pregame tradition is born.

Dalton has the best stats in the league, but he’s also superstitious. Now he’s found his good luck charm. Joy is not only game, she’s playing along. She’s also his best buddy’s younger sister and totally off-limits. What happens between them has to be their late-night FaceTime secret. That’s the naked truth. So is the fact that Joy and Dalton are discovering there’s more to each other than meets the eye.

Falling in lust? Easy to hide. Falling in love? Much harder. Now Dalton has one more proposition for Joy. And the fallout could rock Maple Creek.

Review Card & Book Review – Big Witch Energy By Molly Harper

Caroline Wilton is dying to get off Starfall Point, but if she leaves, there’s a good chance she’ll literally die. For centuries, any Wilton who ventured off the island immediately perished in some freak accident. While Caroline has begrudgingly obeyed her family’s curse, she’s never forgiven all that it has cost her. After all, her high school sweetheart left for college and never came back. Until now.

Although Dr. Ben Hoult returned to take over the med clinic, in his heart, he came back for Caroline. Practical, sensible Ben was too stubborn to believe in her curse. But when his own two teenagers meddle their way into coven business, Ben’s eyes are opened to the world of magic. He quickly learns that Caroline and her friends have the power to see ghosts—like the angry woman in eighteen-century garb occupying her family’s tavern with a menacing glare—and boy, do they need managing.

As the witches dig through old spell books for insight, they discover the angry tavern ghost as one of the island’s most sinister legends—information that could be the key to breaking the Wilton curse and giving Caroline the life she’s always wanted with the man she’s always loved

About The Author

My Review

“Big Witch Energy” continues the magical tale on Starfall Point, centering on Caroline, an island resident bound by a family curse that prevents her from leaving. Caroline, who stayed to work at her family’s bar instead of attending college, reconnects with her high school love, Ben, when he returns to the island with his children after nearly 20 years. Their rekindled romance is sweet, though they must confront past issues.

Ben’s children quickly embrace Caroline and the magic of Shadow House, despite sometimes seeming overly mature. The book deepens the lore of Shadow House, adding layers to its mystery while drawing the characters closer together. Ben’s early discovery of the island’s supernatural elements, especially with his children’s potential abilities, is a welcome development. Additionally, Edison from the first book finds a new “mundane bro” in Ben to discuss the island’s magic.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo