September 11, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – The Teacher’s Match By Kristi Hong

A new career. A new school.
And a very inconvenient new crush.

Joanna Lin is determined to avoid her mother’s matchmaking. With a new career as an art teacher at a Mandarin immersion school, Joanna refuses to let anything or anyone distract her. Especially her charming new colleague Jack Sun. His kindness and passion for teaching—not to mention those dimples!—are practically irresistible. But anything beyond friendship is impossible, especially when Jack’s moving to Taiwan at the end of the school year. But as spring—and the school’s Dragon Boat Festival—draws closer, love might send all of their careful plans tumbling overboard.

About The Author

My Review

This is a sweet, clean romance that delivers a refreshing take on workplace love and cultural nuance. The story follows Joanna Lin, who’s just embarked on a new career as an art teacher at a Mandarin immersion school. Determined to steer clear of her mother’s well-meaning matchmaking efforts, Joanna is focused on her professional goals—until she meets Jack Sun, the charming new fifth-grade teacher whose warmth, kindness, and irresistible dimples quickly unsettle her carefully drawn boundaries. What makes this novel stand out is its gentle, slow-burn romance, perfectly balanced with the pressures of a new job and the looming reality that Jack is destined to return to Taiwan at the end of the school year.

While the initial premise might seem familiar, its engaging dialogue and the relatable internal conflicts of both Joanna and Jack elevate the story. Their evolving connection is portrayed with sensitivity, capturing the bittersweet tension of pursuing a relationship when time is short and circumstances are uncertain. Ultimately, this is an uplifting, heartwarming romance that reminds us that sometimes the most inconvenient crushes can lead to the most transformative experiences.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 11 September 2025

Pastures New By Clare Balding

Alex has perfected the art of dodging responsibility during her almost 40 years – until an unexpected letter turns her life upside down.

She’s inherited a crumbling sheep farm in wildest, wettest Wales. This was not her life plan. Not at all.

Now, her closest companion is a stubborn Welsh terrier, she’s speed-reading The Idiot’s Guide to Farming, and her arrival has set the village gossip mill spinning. With the farm near collapse, Alex sets out to uncover the truth behind her mysterious inheritance.

But as secrets surface, Alex finds her heart pulling her in a direction she never saw coming.

Will she pack her bags – or has she landed exactly where she’s meant to be?

Riding The Line By Emma Lucy

Crossing off her bucket list was easy — until she fell for him.

Cherry Hensley is determined to make her last summer in Willow Ridge count. With a bucket list full of wild ideas Cherry is ready for anything…

Except Duke Bennett.

The town’s hottest bartender — and her brother’s best friend — is way too tempting to resist when he offers to be her partner-in-crime.

Enlisting Duke’s help was supposed to be harmless; she’s known him all her life. But every moment together makes Cherry feel more alive than anything on her bucket list.

You Rock My World By Camilla Isley

She was supposed to fix his image, not fall for the man behind the fame. Can their love hit all the right notes? 🎵

When Josie gets trapped overnight in an elevator with Rian Phoenix—global rock legend—she figures it’ll be a funny story to tell, not a plot twist with heartache written all over it. Only, the real Rian isn’t the bad boy the headlines describe. He is witty, kind, and unexpectedly swoon-worthy. By morning, they’ve shared snacks, secrets, and sparked a dangerously real connection. Then the elevator doors open. Reality crashes in, and Josie becomes a stranger he’s not supposed to remember. She walks away with a bruised heart and a vow to steer clear of rockstars forever.

A year later, Josie’s steady again—until she’s reassigned as Rian’s PR manager. Back in his orbit, she must keep things professional to protect her job—and avoid falling for him all over again. But Rian hasn’t forgotten her. Too bad picking up where they left off could cost her everything. With the world watching, Josie has to decide whether to guard her heart and her career… or press play on a love story that finally hits all the right notes.

Gracie Jenkins Runs A Marathon By Penny Mirren

Gracie Jenkins thought her days of adventure were behind her. Settled into the familiar rhythms of small-town life, aged 72, she never imagined she’d lace up her trainers for anything more than a stroll down memory lane.

But when a long-forgotten postcard sparks a fire within her, Gracie embarks on an extraordinary journey and sets out to conquer the ultimate challenge: training for a marathon.

As Gracie’s steps turn into miles, she discovers strength she never knew she had and a community she never expected to find. But it’s not just about crossing the finish line—it’s about rediscovering herself along the way.

Can Gracie prove to herself, and her loved ones, that age truly is just a number?

Review Card & Book Review- Together Again At The Cornish Country Hospital By Jo Bartlett

A lost love…

A&E Nurse Amy Spencer lives a very ordinary life in Port Kara. She loves her job at the hospital and has a great group of friends, but there is something or someone missing from her life. Amy’s tried dating but no one ever compares with the one boy that got away – Lijah Byrne.

A surprise arrival…

Lijah’s life since he left Port Kara has been what dreams are made of. But lately Lijah has started to feel hollow – the fame and celebrity he once craved now makes him feel trapped. The only place he’s ever felt safe is Port Kara… so maybe it’s time to go back home?

A reunion written in the stars.

When Amy bumps into Lijah again, she only sees the boy she once loved with all her heart. But their lives are so different now. Amy knows a rekindling of their past love will end in heartbreak, but she can’t give up her second chance to be with the man she loves.

About The Author

My Review

In this fifth installment, A&E nurse Amy Spencer, a compassionate and likable heroine, finds her life upended when Lijah Byrne—the one who got away—returns to Port Kara. Once a promising musician whose star once shone brightly, Lijah now grapples with the hollowness of fame and a longing to reconnect with his roots. Their rekindled connection is layered with bittersweet nostalgia, as both characters struggle to reconcile past love with their very different present lives.

Set against the evocative backdrop of a charming Cornish town and its bustling hospital, the narrative seamlessly blends the drama of everyday medical emergencies with the personal challenges of love, loss, and self-discovery. I appreciate the warmth and authenticity of the characters, whose relationships—whether among friends or within family—feel genuine and deeply human. While some may find the romance storyline familiar, I love its uplifting humor, emotional depth, and a sense of community that makes Port Kara feel like home.

This book delivers both comfort and catharsis, making it a delightful read whether you’re returning to the series or joining it for the first time.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo