March 18, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – Christmas At The Little Paris Hotel By Rebecca Raisin

Turn a tumbledown Paris hotel into a perfect boutique, bookish retreat, and have it open for Christmas? What could possibly go wrong?

When Anais receives a near-derelict Paris hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to tidy it up and sell it immediately. All she wants is to move on and forget her disaster of a marriage ever happened.

But selling it proves impossible, so she has only one option: to make it gorgeous and open by Christmas… when her funds will almost certainly run out.

She’s not counting on the grumpy American bar-owner next door, Noah, coming and interfering at every moment though. Nor is she expecting to find a mysterious room – which holds the key to a one-hundred-year-old secret – about a woman who chose love against the odds.

One thing’s for sure… as the fairy lights twinkle all over the city of lights and the first snowflakes start to fall… this will be a Christmas in Paris to remember.

About The Author

My Review

This book follows Anais, who, after a messy divorce, is left with a run-down hotel. Undeterred, she sets out to restore it before Christmas, with the help of her spirited cousin, Manon. Her plans are complicated by Noah, the charming but irritating bar owner next door, who becomes both a rival and a love interest, sparking a playful competition and undeniable romantic tension.

The story combines humor, heartwarming moments, and a touch of mystery as Anais and Noah navigate their differences, ultimately learning to work together. Described as a “Parisian Hallmark movie,” the book goes beyond a cozy holiday setting, exploring themes of inner healing, family bonds, and resilience. With its endearing characters and lighthearted tone, it’s a story about finding love and rediscovering joy amid life’s unexpected challenges.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

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Happy Publication Day – 18 March 2025

A Sky Full Of Stars By Fay Keenan

Charlotte James prefers having her head in the stars to having her feet on the ground.

Moving around for her job as an astronomical archivist gives Charlotte plenty of opportunity to avoid putting down roots. When she accepts a post in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition, all that is on her mind is a chance to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and another summer without having to settle down.

Tristan Ashcombe is managing the development of Observatory Field and as far as he’s concerned, the sooner the observatory is razed to the ground the better. The building holds complicated memories for him and his family, memories he’s ready to put behind him.

But as Charlotte’s work begins to unravel mysteries from a complex past, she realises that there’s more to Tristan and Lower Brambleton than first impressions would suggest. Will Charlotte discover more than she bargained for, will she manage to avoid losing her heart in the process or is her fate already written in the stars?

Falling Overboard By Sariah Wilson

Lucky Salerno’s dream is to own a bakery. To earn enough money to achieve it, she has secured a lucrative job as chief stewardess on a superyacht cruising the Mediterranean. Aboard the ship, there’s one unbreakable rule: no hookups among the crew. No problem. The last thing Lucky has time for is a man. Then she meets Hunter Smith, the gorgeous new deckhand sharing her cabin. Is the universe trying to test her willpower?

Who needs the drama that comes with a relationship? Not Hunter. Who can ignore a witty, beautiful bunkmate like Lucky? Also not Hunter. There’s something just as enticing for Lucky: a tantalizing mystery behind Hunter’s piercing blue eyes she can’t wait to solve. But at what risk?

As they get to know each other, a secret romance buds at sea, and Lucky has to choose. Abide by the rules to make her career dreams come true, or pursue her love for Hunter—another dream that’s just as near to her heart.

Love At First Flight By Jo Watson

Air-traffic controller Pippa Edwards works at a large airport guiding planes through landing or takeoff. She’s one of the best at her job, but when off the clock, Pippa struggles to manage interpersonal relationships and understand social cues.

After six months of only speaking over the intercom, when Pippa finally meets pilot Andrew Boyce-Jones face-to-face, they discover they’ve got much more in common than simply working at the same airport . . . they both need a date.

Faced with her dreaded ten-year-reunion, Pippa wants to avoid the usual questions about why she doesn’t have a boyfriend (or a relationship that lasts). And Andrew needs to get his well-meaning family off his back about settling down.

The solution seems simple. A pact—a fake-dating pact—for as long as it’s mutually beneficial. It’s perfect.

Or at least it would be if not for their very real attraction. Now Pippa’s questioning everything she thought she wanted, and how she thought people saw her. She’s wondering if there really is someone who can love her exactly as she is, and if she can let her guard down enough to let him in.

Review Card & Book Review- Meet Me In A Mile By Elizabeth Hrib

Lydia McKenzie is not a runner. Not even close. But in her quest to be taken seriously at work—and catch the eye of her office crush—she signs up for the New York City Marathon as part of her architectural firm’s outreach program. Now she just needs to avoid making a fool of herself. Thankfully, she knows how to outsource.

Personal trainer Luke Townsend is definitely a runner, and he’s exactly what Lydia needs to get in shape: experienced, motivational, funny, kind, well muscled… And when he and Lydia bond over her redesign of the Manhattan Youth Center, a place near and dear to Luke’s heart, their training time intensifies from hitting the pavement to hitting the sheets. Still counts as a workout, right?

Suddenly, everything Lydia thought she wanted feels less clear, but she’s determined not to let a little unplanned indiscretion derail her goals. There’s no reason she and Luke can’t keep training as if they don’t share mind-blowing chemistry. They’re professionals. But when her project proposal suddenly hangs in the balance, and her office crush offers some awfully tempting one-on-one help, she’ll have to decide which direction her heart wants to run.

About The Author

My Review

This is a dual POV friends-to-lovers romance featuring Lydia, who signs up for the NYC marathon to win over her office crush and impress her boss. She hires Luke, a dedicated youth center worker, as her marathon coach after a chance encounter, but soon finds herself developing unexpected feelings for him. Their relationship grows naturally through marathon training and shared career ambitions, strengthened by their chemistry and banter.

The story is enriched with themes like architecture, sustainability, and personal growth, adding depth beyond the central romance. While the love triangle subplot and the development of side characters (Eric, Kirsten, Jack) may feel predictable or underdeveloped, Lydia’s evolving connection with Luke is compelling. The subplot with Jack, though somewhat drawn out, encourages Lydia’s self-reflection. Overall, it’s a light, witty, and engaging read that balances humor with the complexities of personal and romantic growth.

My Rating

Link To Purchase