April 7, 2025 – My Sanctuary

All seven sisters are finally home for Christmas, but can the last two find love like the others?

As Endora Simmons plans her Christmas wedding, she’s delighted to have her last two sisters, Rae and Bo, finally back in Spanish Fort, Texas. Endora figures if she keeps them busy, they won’t have time to think about leaving again. So, Endora talks Rae into teaching Sunday school; as a former police officer, surely Rae can corral the rowdy kids—the most high-spirited being Sheriff Gunner’s twin daughters—into making Christmas decorations for the upcoming pageant. Bo helps out by taking over the community Christmas program. She’s also been working with Aunt Bernie on her new venture, a monthly speed-dating night at a bar just over the river in Oklahoma—and boy, does she have her eye on that handsome bartender. With all the Christmas preparations in high gear, will Rae and Bo still find time to fall in love?

About The Author

My Review

This summary introduces the story of Rae and Bo, twin sisters who return to their family home, Paradise, in Spanish Fort. Rae, a former police officer, is at a career crossroads, deciding between law enforcement and teaching. She steps in for her sister Endora’s Sunday School class and meets Gunner, a widower trying to raise his energetic twin daughters. Bo, having given up her singing dreams in Nashville, meets Maverick, a charming bartender and manager, with whom she shares an instant connection. Despite warnings from her Aunt Bernie, Bo is tasked with managing Bernie’s bar while she is away on a cruise.

As Christmas nears, the community bands together to decorate Paradise. Amidst these festivities, Endora, engaged to Parker, the town pastor, decides to skip the stress of wedding planning and surprise everyone with a Christmas wedding. This heartwarming tale, part of Carolyn Brown’s *Sisters in Paradise* series, features two romances, family closeness, and the warmth of Texan life. The book also highlights the joys of a matchmaking aunt, the dynamics of family life, and wholesome love stories.

My Rating

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Christmas trees decked with fairy lights twinkle in every window, carollers fill the streets, and charity worker Hannah is gearing up for the season of giving in the little Irish village. But it’s not just the cold winter winds that are chilling her spirits this year…

When twenty-three-year-old Hannah Kelly finds out that the beautiful rolling hills around her hometown could be destroyed by a new building development, she rushes back to Emerald Bay to rally the community. But arriving home at The Shamrock Inn, there’s another shock in store… the handsome and sparkling-eyed lead developer, Tom Flynn, has checked in as a guest. Is this Hannah’s chance to save the village?

Hannah tries to convince Tom the beautiful area needs to be protected: even though he’s as stubborn as the donkey in the local nativity play. But when sharing that this is also where her late grandfather first met and proposed to her grandmother, his gentle hug as she sobs makes her wonder if maybe they aren’t so different…

As sparks start to fly, Hannah decides to invite Tom to experience the joys of a Kelly Christmas Day. When Tom’s hand catches hers as they peel brussels sprouts together, Hannah’s cheeks start to blush. But it turns to a flush of anger as he ducks out to take a call – about work starting in the spot she’s fought so hard to save. And the voice on the phone is strangely familiar…

About The Author

My Review

This is the fifth book in the “Little Irish Village” series, though it works well as a standalone. The story follows Hannah Kelly, an environmental campaigner who returns to her hometown, Emerald Bay, after hearing about a development threatening the village’s conserved land. Determined to protect the village’s heritage, she takes on the fight while staying at her parents’ inn for Christmas.

There, she meets Tom, a businessman from Dublin staying for the festive season. Initially clashing with him, Hannah must navigate both her campaign against the development and various family dynamics, all while dealing with the village’s past and present troubles. Though the book is marketed as a romance, the main focus is on Hannah’s personal journey and her battle to preserve the village, with romance only coming into play towards the end.

The novel offers a cosy, enjoyable atmosphere, with vibrant characters, especially the Kelly family. However, it lacks momentum in the middle, and the Christmas vibe fades at times. Despite some frustrations with the pacing and character development, the charming dialogue, vivid Irish setting, and touching moments, particularly related to the famine cottage, make it an engaging read.

My Rating