August 28, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Petals And Plot Twists By Jenny Proctor

Unlucky in love Sophie Stewart might need a miracle to find her one true love…or maybe just a little bit of magic.

Sophie Stewart knows a lot about plants. The rooftop garden she tends and beautifies is ample evidence of that. What she doesn’t know is anything about love, not with her long track record of always picking the wrong guy.

But then a mystery flower pops up in her garden—a flower that only blooms in the presence of true love.

Never one to shy away from a little magic, Sophie convinces her best friend, Peter, to help her use the flower to find her soulmate.

But after an unexpected kiss with the one man she never thought she’d fall for, Sophie starts to wonder if she’s looking for love in all the wrong places.

The flower has a plan, but only Sophie can decide if she wants to trust it or take fate into her own hands.

Best friends turn to lovers in this heartwarming romantic comedy about love and choice and making your own destiny.

About The Author

My Review

Petals and Plot Twists is a charming friends-to-lovers romantic comedy set in The Serendipity, a historic apartment building known for its matchmaking magic. Sophie, a botanist caring for the building’s rooftop gardens, and Peter, her longtime best friend and a reserved data analyst, have a deep bond. Though Peter has secretly loved Sophie for years, her distrust of men keeps her from seeing him as more than a friend.

When Sophie discovers a mysterious “Love flower” that only blooms in the presence of true love, she enlists Peter’s help to find her soulmate—unaware that it might have already been him all along. Their slow realization, combined with the magic of The Serendipity, makes for a heartwarming, well-written romance. With authentic emotions, endearing characters, and a fresh take on the friends-to-lovers trope, this clean, whimsical romance is a must-read for fans of sweet, magical love stories.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 28 August 2025

A New Family At Puddleduck Farm By Della Galton

Are there enough hours in the day for everyone to find their happy place?

Phoebe Dashwood and Sam Hendrie welcome their beautiful baby daughter into their already busy lives. With motherhood now top of Phoebe’s to-do list alongside being a vet, and running an animal sanctuary there’s no time for daydreaming.

As Phoebe battles sleepless nights, extra challenges arise in the shape of abandoned African pygmy hedgehogs, stolen cats, and a worrying trend to keep wildlife as pets.

Meanwhile, Sam is selflessly left holding the baby and when a familiar face from the past returns old feelings are tested. With so many plates spinning Sam worries something may get broken – he just hopes it won’t be their relationship.

Can parenthood, a relationship, and a professional life be successfully juggled and is it really ever possible to have it all?

Christmas At The Home Farm Vets By Suzanne Snow

Ten years ago, Erin had her heart broken by fellow vet student Oli. Now, she’s his landlord.

All Erin wants is independence and security. All Oli does is travel the world after locuming at practices for a few months. So when he comes back into Erin’s life, she knows it’s temporary, no matter the lingering looks he gives her.

With Christmas approaching, the vet practice is busier than ever, and Erin is surprised at how well she and Oli work together to help the animals of Hartfell. From sharing meals in her cramped cottage to meandering the village fayre, the wall Erin has built around her heart begins to crumble.

But Oli’s contract is coming to an end and he’s shown no sign of wanting to stay. Has she set herself up for another heartbreak from the only man she’s ever loved? Or will she realise that being independent sometimes means relying on others, and security comes with taking risks?

Paper Heart By Cecelia Ahern

Pip’s world is small. But it’s about to become a whole lot bigger.

For years she’s tucked away her dreams, shrinking herself into the space left behind – like the delicate origami she creates alone in her room.

Then hope comes from an unlikely place: an astronomer from the local observatory. He teaches her to look up at the stars, and to see a world far bigger and more beautiful than she ever imagined.

And perhaps in that big, beautiful universe there’s someone waiting for her. If she can find the courage to open her heart.

Review Card & Book Review – My Big Fat Fake Marriage By Charlotte Stein

Connie Evans has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable Henry Samuel Beckett: sweet, a lover of bow ties and so cheery that Connie struggles to believe he’s real.

Until Beck – as he’s known to most – tells Connie the secret beneath his sunny surface. He’s been single all his life, but somehow seems to have told everyone he works with that he’s married. And, when Connie can’t help but defend him, she ends up being the wife he doesn’t have.

And now they’re on a writing retreat together, surrounded by people convinced they can’t be for real, with both of them sure that those people are right. Until they have to share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds . . .

About The Author

My Review

Connie distrusts “nice guys” until she meets Beck, her friendly, bow-tie-wearing neighbor. When Beck lies about being married to avoid workplace scrutiny, Connie agrees to pose as his wife at a company retreat. As they spend time together, their fake relationship starts feeling real, challenging Connie’s trust issues.

Told from Connie’s witty, introspective perspective, the novel balances humor, emotional depth, and slow-burning romance. This lighthearted romance features fun tropes like fake marriage and close proximity. While entertaining, the story’s believability is questionable—especially Beck’s character, whose inexperience feels exaggerated. If you enjoy feel-good, escapist reads and don’t overanalyze realism, this book may be worth picking up.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo