June 19, 2025 – My Sanctuary

The Forever Cottage By Jill Steeples

🌿 It’s never too late to follow your heart… 🌿

Tess Alexander lives an enviable life with her husband Charles, at Hollyhocks Cottage in the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping. Dreaming of their early retirement, Tess’s plans are dashed when Charles shares some devastating news and suddenly she’s left alone with only Barney, her adorable Beagle dog, for company.

Facing an uncertain future, Tess tries to reconnect with her old self. She begins to transform the neglected garden office into a beautiful retreat, the perfect spot for her to indulge in her long-forgotten creative passions.

However, a chance encounter with charming but down on his luck, Rob Templeton, soon puts pay to her plans, when she offers him the place to stay, sensing a kindred spirit.

With the support of old friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must now step out of her comfort zone and embrace a different way of life, one that is filled with secrets, possibilities and second chances, if only Tess is prepared to take them.

With so many demands on her attention, will Tess find a way to follow her heart and discover her own happy ending?

A Place In The Sun By Jo Thomas

It’s never too late to find where you belong…

Thea knew the holiday house her late husband Marco bought in Tuscany wasn’t pristine. But when she relocates to Italy for the summer with her children, she’s shocked by how much work Casa Luna needs. And she only has six weeks to fix it up ready to sell! Her only option is to ask the tight-knit Italian community for help.

In return, Thea and her children become involved in the community kitchen, working alongside handsome chef Giovanni and three very competitive nonnas. Gradually, Thea begins to open up to the people around her for the first time in a long while. But just as she’s beginning to wonder whether this small Tuscan town could become a new place to call home, a surprise visitor turns everything on its head . . .

A Cornish Love Story By Cressida McLaughlin

The most romantic house in Cornwall has got a new owner…

Journalist Georgie Monroe has watched as it has been transformed into a high-tech glass palace, renovated by a mystery buyer.

When she’s invited to report on an event there, she comes face to face not only with her first love, architect Ethan Sparks, but also with their complicated past. Finding themselves trapped inside when the house malfunctions, Georgie realises that they — and the house — are still keeping secrets.

But have Georgie and Ethan left it too late to start again, or can they write the next chapter of their love story together?

Not My Greek Wedding By Sue Roberts

She might not be the bride, but could this wedding be the start of her perfect future?

Mia is reeling from a breakup with her fiancé. And now her best friend Tasha is getting married on the beautiful Greek island of Santorini – where Mia once planned on having her own wedding.

Arriving at the resort, Mia’s breath catches at the sight of the sun-soaked terrace and vases overflowing with pink and white blooms. And with guests like local hunk, Christos, walking around like statues of Greek gods come to life, there’s even more to celebrate… so Mia promises to put her own heartache aside and make sure everything is perfect for Tasha – especially as she’s the Maid of Honour!

But with embarrassing speeches, champagne corks popping everywhere, and guests getting caught up in the energetic Greek dancing, there are too many problems to tackle alone. If she opens her heart, can Mia and Christos make sure the day runs smoothly, and could she even start her own new love story in Greece?

The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop By Annabel French

One fresh start. One unexpected encounter. Can love bridge the gap?

When Rosie leaves behind her ordinary life in England to open a flower shop on Amsterdam’s water, she expects nothing less than a fairytale.

Max, her handsome but brooding new neighbour, prefers to keep the world at arm’s length – and living on the houseboat next door, he’s not too thrilled about the new company.

As Rosie’s business blossoms, so do her feelings for Max. But Rosie isn’t sure she’s ready for a relationship, and Max is still nursing a broken heart.

Then a rival in the flower market threatens her dreams, Rosie discovers that the most beautiful things can bloom when you learn to go with the flow – and allow someone to stand by your side.

This could be their greatest adventure yet…

A stressed-out translator on the brink of a meltdown and a thrill seeker with a serious case of wanderlust find love outside their comfort zones.

Up until a few months ago, Rheo Whitlock had it all. Stability, self-confidence and a safe job as an interpreter for the United Nations… It was the predictable sort of existence she, as a dedicated homebody, had always dreamed of—the security she’d needed thanks to her nomadic #vanlife upbringing. But ever since an unfortunate “hot mic” moment threw her career into a tailspin, she’s been struggling—really struggling—with fear, anxiety and uncertainty. A calculated escape is in order, and Rheo knows just the place: her grandmother’s secluded hideaway in the breathtaking town of Gilmartin.

Except she won’t be alone, thanks to a random twist of fate…

Fletcher Wright lives for adrenaline, always chasing the next high. So when he learns he’ll have to share his rental accommodations with Rheo—a stranger, basically—he simply chalks it up to another challenge. It doesn’t hurt that there’s an immediate attraction between them, which neither can explain. Before long, they’re not just sharing a house and new experiences—they’re sharing a bed. But when it’s time for Fletcher to move on to the next adventure, he and Rheo will both have to decide—are they ready to take the biggest risk of all?

About The Author

My Review

Rheo’s career as a UN interpreter is interrupted after a hot mic incident leaves her anxious and unable to work. She retreats to her grandmother’s cabin for solitude, only to find her cousin has arranged for Fletcher, a thrill-seeker friend, to stay there too. Despite their contrasting lifestyles, Rheo and Fletcher quickly develop chemistry. As they navigate personal growth, family dynamics, and their evolving relationship, the book explores themes of self-confidence, facing fears, and finding balance. The story also touches on chronic illness and neurodiversity. The romance is slow-burning, and the setting is quirky and charming.

My Rating