March 2025 – Page 2 – My Sanctuary

Happy Publication Day – 25 March 2025

The Two Of Us By Lori Foster & Maisey Yates

The Odd Couple * LORI FOSTER
Ford Caruso agrees to an unusual favor—playing the part of new boyfriend for his adamantly single, irresistibly sexy neighbor Skye Fairchild, whose clueless ex refuses to accept his fate. But as Skye starts dropping by to use Ford’s pool, and even plan dates, the charade begins to feel satisfyingly real, complete with choosing rescue dogs together—a giant mutt and a fierce little chihuahua who adore each other. From one odd couple to another, some things are destined . . .

Force of Nature * MAISEY YATES
Rescuing animals is in Lydia Clay’s blood, so when a mournful old cattle dog named Hank shows up at the shelter, she knows exactly where to take him: to cattle rancher Remington Lane, her brother’s hot, and usually grumpy, best friend. Hank belonged to Remy’s estranged father, which is one strike against him, but when Lydia offers to help the man ease into dog ownership, he can’t say no. And as he and Lydia work together, it looks like an old dog can actually teach this brooding cattleman some heart-warming new tricks . . .

Review Card & Book Review- Boss With Benefits By Lucy King

He’s the boss…
but their passion obeys no one!

CEO Adam Courtney must stay celibate or lose an acquisition that will absolve the guilt of his mother’s death. No problem… Until the woman he shared an uncharacteristically impulsive encounter with walks into his Manhattan boardroom to audit his firm. Because he knows exactly how searing they are together…

Being in Adam’s orbit daily, unable to touch him, is torture. Only Ella Green can’t cave. She won’t risk her career for anyone again. Yet the more forbidden their desire, the hotter it burns and the faster they lose grip on their control…

About The Author

My Review

In this fun, over-the-top romance, billionaire Adam is caught in a tricky situation: he must fake date a friend all summer to win a business bet with two friends. However, he’s irresistibly drawn to Ella, an auditor hired to examine his company, who also happens to be his unforgettable one-night stand. They agree to keep things professional, but their chemistry is undeniable. To avoid the tabloids and win the bet, they plan a secret Caribbean getaway once the audit is over. This book is filled with tension, humor, and romance, making it a compelling part of a trilogy featuring three billionaires navigating love and reputation.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- The Christmas You Found Me By Sarah Morgenthaler

Sienna Naples’s family has taken care of their wild Idaho land for generations and Sienna can’t imagine any other life. But at Christmastime, with her parents gone and her painful marriage finally over, it’s full of memories…and incredibly lonely. Until a tall, handsome stranger and a little girl walk into her life and suddenly the holidays are alive again.

When single father Guy Maple shows up as the result of an ad meant to be a joke, the handsome Montana construction worker isn’t joking. Money is tight this Christmas, and Guy’s four-year-old daughter Emma has stage-five chronic kidney disease. She needs a kidney transplant, but if Guy can’t prove that he can afford Emma’s anti-rejection medications, his daughter isn’t going to stay on the transplant list. Guy’s willing to do anything, including marrying a stranger, to keep her safe. It’s an impulsive marriage of convenience, and Sienna knows this isn’t real, no matter how much she adores Emma, how well Guy fits in to the ranching life—or how much light and laughter is coming into their lives as a result. But the more time she spends with her new family, the more she fears losing the fragile, feisty little girl and the kind, devoted, hard-working, incredibly attractive man who is her husband—but is it only in name?

About The Author

My Review

This emotionally intense romance follows Sienna, a divorced rancher, and Guy, a single dad trying to save his daughter with stage five kidney disease. The marriage-of-convenience storyline unfolds quickly due to their urgent circumstances, set against a cozy ranch backdrop during Christmas. Despite the rapid pace, Sienna and Guy’s honesty and vulnerability create a deep, heartfelt connection. While the ending may feel abrupt, it provides a well-deserved, satisfying conclusion after the characters’ emotional journey. Filled with laughter, sadness, and love, this is a touching read with depth and heart.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 24 March 2025

The Runaway Wives By Karen King

‘We’re leaving. And there’s nothing either of you can do about it!’

When the surprise holiday Dee thinks her husband has booked for her sixtieth birthday weekend turns out to be yet another solo golfing break – it’s the last straw.

Meanwhile her best friend Babs’s other half has decided to move to Spain and is acting like he doesn’t need to consult anyone. Not even Babs!

Well, if their husbands think they can do what they want, so can their wives. So, with that thought, the two best friends leap into Dee’s trusty car and head for the seaside, and an adventure they’ll never forget.

Back home their furious husbands want them to return immediately. But – as they begin to enjoy their newfound freedom – will either of the runaway wives ever want to come back home again?

Review Card & Book Review – Endgame By Ola Tundun

Ariella and Caleb were never meant to last…

She’s the ambitious workaholic constantly trying to prove herself. He’s the charming bad boy with a troubled past. Their love story could only ever have been temporary.

But when Ariella’s company faces a crisis, Caleb is the only one who can save it. Now they’re forced to work together, fighting their attraction, and the pain of their old wounds.

With her heart torn and her career on the line, Ariella must decide who to trust and what she truly wants. Can she forgive Caleb’s mistakes and rebuild their relationship? Or is it time to take a chance on a new beginning?

About The Author

My Review

“Endgame” concludes Aari and Caleb’s winding, messy love story, following their growth and struggles over three books. This emotional finale explores their flawed, human characters and the difficult journey to a healthy relationship, highlighting the need for personal and mutual development. The author, Ola Tundun, builds tension and depth, with realistic portrayals and complex themes that engage readers throughout. The epilogue provides a satisfying glimpse of the hard-won resolutions. Overall, it’s a gritty, emotional series that captures the beauty and challenges of love.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 23 March 2025

I Knew You Were Trouble By Sandy Barker

Don’t get mad. Get even.

Kate Whitaker has always believed in love, but when a stranger named Willem shows up on her doorstep, the news he has to share isn’t as exciting as his god-like looks might suggest. He’s come to tell her that Kate’s fiancé is also engaged to his sister.

Kate doesn’t know how she didn’t see the red flags: Jon’s work as an airline pilot having him flying around the globe, the postponed dates, the huge rock of an engagement ring that isn’t her style at all.

Overcome with fury – and entranced by the Nordic god’s piercing blue eyes and quiet allure – Kate agrees to accompany Willem to his hometown of Amsterdam to help break the news to his sister. Yet what begins as a simple gesture of support soon twists into a deliciously devious plan to get back at Jon.

Kate is drawn into a world of retribution, revenge and – unexpectedly – romance. Because sometimes the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else…

Review Card & Book Review – Marry Me In Italy By Nicky Pellegrino

A dream wedding in Italy?
It’s the chance of a lifetime!

Skye has been with Tim forever and the last thing she’s thinking about is saying ‘I do’. It’s Tim that enters the dream wedding competition – he’s longing to win an all-expenses-paid trip to romantic Montenello. An escape to a beautiful Italian hill town might be just what they need to find love again…

Ana definitely isn’t interested in getting married – she doesn’t need a man to make her happy. But when she loses her job at a glossy food magazine, she jumps at the chance of a new life, renovating a crumbling Italian farmhouse. Her handsome (and very distracting) neighbour definitely isn’t part of the plan.

About The Author

My Review

“Marry Me in Italy” follows Skye, a cake maker, and Ana, an editor, on journeys of self-discovery in the charming town of Montenello, Italy. As both face personal and professional upheavals—Ana losing her job and Skye reconsidering her engagement—their paths intertwine amid stunning scenery, delicious food, and engaging characters. The novel’s descriptive writing brings the Italian countryside to life, making for a delightful and immersive holiday read. Despite mixed feelings about the ending, I feel that story remains enjoyable, with likable protagonists and vivid imagery throughout.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

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Kobo

Review Card & Book Review – Her Christmas Secret By Gabrielle Meyer

Her life was right on track

Until her past came knocking…

Nothing ever rattles school principal Valerie Wilmington…until the child she gave up a decade ago, and allowed her mother to raise, now becomes her responsibility. Valerie wants desperately to be a good mom but struggles to connect with the daughter she barely knows. She finds solace in the contractor and single dad hired to renovate her school, Wade Griffin. As their children become fast friends, Wade helps Valerie navigate her new family’s first Christmas. But Wade’s been lied to before, and Valerie’s secret will change everything…

About The Author

My Review

Valerie, the principal of a Christian school in need of repairs, meets Wade, the man hired to fix it. At the same time, Valerie takes in Hailee, the daughter she had at 18 but was raised as her sister, now sent to live with her. Valerie and Wade, a single father, grow closer, but Valerie fears her secret about Hailee could jeopardize their blossoming relationship. The story, set in a Christian community with wholesome themes, develops into a heartwarming Christmas romance filled with endearing characters, family bonds, and gentle faith elements, capturing the charm typical of a Love Inspired book.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Second Chance Christmas By Jahquel J

Being known as the daughter of the Sageport’s town drunk always left Faith Stone defending her mother and herself. Her only solace was her boyfriend, Rome. Even as a teenager, Faith knew she wanted forever with Rome Atkins. Their small town, her mother’s struggles, and everyone’s opinions of their relationship couldn’t hold them back forever. After graduation, they would put Sageport behind them and start life anew together . . . but prom night changed everything.

Fifteen years later, Faith, now a divorced, single parent, finds herself back in Sageport for the holidays. The memories and pain are still fresh, as if everything happened yesterday, especially when she runs into Rome, who never left Sageport. Also fresh are the unexpected lingering feelings they still harbor for each other. Do old wounds run too deep, or can the joy of Christmas provide enough healing power for a second chance love reunion?

About The Author

My Review

This is an emotional, second-chance romance about Faith Stone and Rome Atkins, who are brought back together after 15 years of separation. Their relationship was shattered when Rome’s brother died in a car accident caused by Faith’s mother, prompting Faith to leave Sageport for Atlanta. Now, Faith returns to care for her father after his stroke, confronting painful memories and unresolved feelings. As she reconnects with Rome, old emotions resurface, and they must face their past to find healing. The story realistically portrays the characters’ struggles, growth, and eventual rekindling of their love, leading to a much-deserved happy ending.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

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Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 21 March 2025

Playing For Keeps in Starr’s Fall By Kate Hewitt

As the frozen earth gives way to the first spring crocuses, pushing their way into the warmer air, Maggie arrives in Starr’s Fall. She’s looking for a new start, with her lovable but painfully shy teenaged son in tow.

It feels like the odds are against her, but she’s determined to come out winning this time, and to fulfil her dream of opening up a board game café. But not everything’s a game, and when she finds herself attracted to a man who’s known as a different sort of player, she worries she’s setting herself up to lose.

Zach is funny, surprisingly geeky, and, most importantly, bonds with her son. But Zach is also drop-dead gorgeous, has a reputation around town, and is also ten years younger than her.

When he asks her out on a date, Maggie is totally thrown. She can’t deny she’s attracted to him. But is she ready to risk her heart with another roll of the dice?