August 14, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- If You Could See Me Now By Samantha Tonge

How far would you go for a perfect life?

Back in her troubled school days, kind-hearted Violet always dreamed of a life where she was happy. Now it feels like she’s just about getting there. She has her dream job working with books, and she’s living with her handsome boyfriend, Lenny.

But when her relationship with Lenny falls to pieces and he moves out, Violet, hurt and lonely, decides it’s time to really take her happiness in hand. With her new flatmate Bella’s help, she changes her image and takes control at work, ready to show the world that she doesn’t need Lenny, ready to live her best life!

Then she meets magnetic author Casey, she begins to wonder if all she needed all along was a makeover. Lenny will rue the day he lost her!

But – with Bella – all is not as it seems. And Violet too has a secret, one that dates right back to her childhood, which could change everything…

About The Author

My Review

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge follows Violet as she navigates heartbreak and self-discovery after her ex cheats on her. With the help of her lively new roommate, Bella, she focuses on self-improvement, but her transformation becomes a shield against deeper struggles she refuses to face. Alternating between past and present, the story begins lighthearted but soon reveals a more serious, introspective journey. As Violet confronts shocking truths, the novel explores mental health, identity, and empowerment. Though the pacing is uneven, this emotional yet hopeful read delivers a powerful message of confidence and self-acceptance.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 14 August 2025

Where You’re Planted By Melanie Sweeney

A single mum. A grumpy gardener. Can they let love bloom?

Busy librarian and single mum Tansy Perkins doesn’t have time for love – she’s either lost in a book or in a pile of homework.

Grumpy gardener Jack Reid has sworn off relationships since his divorce. Right now, he’s only interested in growing flowers, not feelings.

So when a hurricane forces Tansy to move her library into Jack’s pristine botanic gardens, it’s safe to say that neither of them are thrilled by this new distraction. But soon the chemistry between them grows impossible to ignore …

Will they dig in their heels, or let love take root?

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas By Hayley Dunlop

Can life be like a made-for-TV Christmas movie?

Mally Allister prides herself on being nice and predictable, just like the trope-filled festive films she turns to for comfort every winter.

But when she faces the prospect of spending Christmas alone in her London flat, Mally is sent on a writing assignment to try to recreate the cheesy Christmas movie experience in her humdrum British hometown.

With the help of familiar faces from her formative years, including her teenage crush Tom, Mally starts ticking off the classic holiday romance movie tropes in unexpected ways.

But can real life ever live up to the magical movie experience?

Don’t Believe A Word By Susan Lewis

They raised her. Nurtured her. And lied about everything.

They told Sadie she was adopted.

They gave her a home and showered her with love.

But they lied.

Sadie was stolen.

They say Sadie’s making it all up.

But you shouldn’t believe a word…

The Boss I Can’t Stand By Leslie North

The Hating Game meets Anyone But You—but she’s a costume designer, he’s Hollywood’s hottest problem, and one dropped cufflink launches them into a fake engagement with real feelings and zero escape plan.

Yay, I’m engaged… to the biggest jerk in Hollywood. If Finn Lockhart ever wrote an AITA post, the answer would be a unanimous yes. Why am I engaged to someone I can’t stand? Funny story. I work for Finn—costume designer on his latest movie. One day on set, I dropped a box of cufflinks. Finn kneeled down to help. The paparazzi snapped a photo. Voilà—engagement.

The fake news goes viral. Suddenly, Hollywood’s most notorious (and hottest) bachelor is off the market. And his PR team? Obsessed. Finn’s stressed about the film, and I’m not one to ruin a good production. So, I play along. I move into his absurdly luxurious penthouse where his cat gives me side-eye from a marble windowsill. Clearly, brooding disdain runs in the family. But I know how this story goes. Men like Finn don’t fall in love. Especially not with women like me.

Then his lips crash onto mine. And suddenly, pretending is the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done.

Review Card & Book Review – When Alec Met Evie By Jenny Proctor

Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off.

When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.

Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother.
Number two: She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon.
Number three: With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating.

Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him.

But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise.

A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down.

But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.

About The Author

My Review

Evie, a newly single mom, moves to a new town to start fresh as a luthier. The only person she knows is Alec, her childhood crush and a pro hockey player nearing the end of his career. Their reunion rekindles old feelings, and Alec quickly becomes attached to both Evie and her daughter, Juno. As he grapples with life after hockey, Evie navigates single motherhood in a story that is heartfelt, authentic, and beautifully written. With deep emotional moments and a genuine connection between the characters, this final installment in Jenny Proctor’s series is a touching and satisfying read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble