May 22, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Live, Ranch, Love By Emma Lucy

She’s here to sell his ranch, but he might steal her heart…

When English wellness influencer Rory Jones inherits her great aunt’s ranch in Colorado, her plan to fix-up and sell-up ASAP hits a snag.

Grumpy head rancher Wyatt Hensley isn’t willing to let a yoga-loving, manifestation guru who doesn’t even know how to ride a horse ruin his ranch.

But when Rory faces up to the fact she hasn’t got anything to rush home for, they strike up a deal that might just save both their jobs.

Can they keep things strictly business, or will their hearts take the reins instead?

Cross My Heart By Esha Patel

May Velasco has always wanted to be a lacrosse player, and she’s finally achieved her dream: joining her college team on a scholarship. Now she’s got to give her all to keep her hard-fought place on the team.

But then CJ “Colt” Bradley shows up at her college to help with training. He’s a professional player, but he was also her grade school nemesis, and the last thing May wants to do is take pointers from him.

So when they’re photographed having what looks like – but definitely isn’t – an intimate moment at a bar, May’s outraged. But the college is thrilled that women’s lacrosse is getting press.

May and Colt will have to pretend they’re dating until the lacrosse team is happy. But it doesn’t take long before this fake relationship starts to feel all too real, and May begins to question if she really wants this relationship to be fake after all…

Melting For You By Tegan Phillips

In the game of second chances, can they follow the rules?

When Ellis Ainsley runs into her charming, handsome ex, NHL player Liam Ruinsky, ten years after they split, she remembers why she fell for him. Now, their lives are worlds apart and though she knows they’d never work, the temptation is too much.

It was supposed to only be one night… until Ellis sees the positive pregnancy test.

Already a chronically ill woman juggling her health and career, Ellis needs to figure out how to tell Liam he is going to be a dad. And how can they co-parent, with their chemistry undeniable?

With turbulent families, overbearing coaches, and the media wanting a slice of Liam’s life, can he step up? And most of all, will they risk falling in love for a second time?

A New Arrival At Samphire Bay By Sasha Morgan

The path to true love never did run smooth…

Famous actor-turned-director Felix Paschal – real name Adam Sinclair – has bought Samphire Bay’s iconic Art Deco house, not only for the privacy it grants him, but also as the location for the new historical drama he is directing. But the sprawling house desperately needs a housekeeper.

Luckily for Adam, local musician Emma desperately needs money, as she and her band try to make it big. Being a housekeeper proves to be both fulfilling and entertaining, especially when Adam’s show starts filming and sparks fly between the two.

But not everyone is happy with the new resident – from nasty texts and disturbing letters to fake news leaked to the press, both Adam and Emma will have to work hard to protect their home.

What do you do when you realise you’ve fallen for your best friend, but he sees you as the sister he never had? And to make things worse, you’re stuck in the middle of a matchmaking scheme to find him someone else!

Best friends Gaby and Raff are inseparable and know each other inside out. But with Raff’s string of disastrous relationships and his newfound fame as Britain’s Best Baker, it’s time to enlist the Ever After Agency to help him find true love.

At first, Gaby is all in – Raff is a catch, after all. But as she secretly helps to find his perfect match, she’s hit with unexpected pangs of jealousy. And before she can act on her feelings, Raff falls for one of his dates.

Can Gaby keep her emotions in check, or will she risk ruining their friendship to find out if Raff feels the same way?

About The Author

My Review

I picked up this book because the premise intrigued me, and midway through, I realized the characters felt familiar—I had read the first book in the series, Match Me If You Can! I didn’t realize it was part of the Ever After series since it wasn’t labeled as such. That said, it works well as a standalone, but it’s also fun to recognize characters from earlier books.

The story centers on Raff, who wins Britain’s top baking competition only to be dumped the same day he planned to propose. Known for diving headfirst into love, he finds himself lost, and his best friends, Gaby and Freya, decide to help by setting him up. But Gaby soon realizes that maybe she is the right one for Raff. This friends-to-lovers romance is filled with themes of found family, self-discovery, and love.

The book made me laugh out loud several times, and the bond between Raff, Gaby, and Freya felt so genuine. I loved how it explored different kinds of love, from romantic to familial, as well as the fears and insecurities that come with pursuing new dreams and seeking acceptance. Ultimately, it’s a heartfelt story about finding love and acceptance from those who see us as we truly are—a journey that feels both relatable and inspiring.

My Rating