October 3, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – 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?

About The Author

My Review

This book introduces us to Rory, a wellness influencer and author trying to recover from a personal betrayal and creative burnout. She escapes to her late great-aunt’s ranch with plans to renovate and sell it, hoping the project will reignite her writing spark. Standing in her way is Wyatt, the grumpy, grounded head rancher who’s given his life to this land and isn’t about to let Rory turn it into an influencer playground. The compromise? A wellness retreat that keeps the ranch’s spirit intact—if they can keep things strictly professional.

This was a light, easy read—ideal for a holiday or a break from heavier fiction. The setting was charming, and the concept had a lot of potential. However, the romance itself didn’t fully land for me. While it’s described as enemies-to-lovers, it lacked the kind of chemistry and tension that make that trope shine. It felt more like mild dislike turned into cooperation and then affection, rather than a true emotional arc.

Overall: A decent debut with a sweet ranch setting and a gentle romance, but lacking the emotional spark and tension I was hoping for. That said, I’d still consider picking up the next book to see how the author grows.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 3 October 2025

All The Things We Never Knew By Sophie Ranald

A marriage built on secrets. A family torn apart. A love that could heal them all.

When Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer the day before Valentine’s Day, she knows they’re not for her – her ears aren’t even pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis that shatters their family.

As Gray lies dying in their Damask Square home, Anna meets Laurel – the nurse who stole her husband’s heart. Despite her rage, Anna finds herself sharing Gray’s final days with this other woman, both desperate to ease his suffering while drowning in their own grief.

But hidden in their loft, Anna discovers traces of a stranger – a boy who was a gifted pianist, who had a different life before he became her husband. As she struggles to hold herself together for her teenage children, Anna realises everything she believed about Gray was built on carefully constructed lies.

Can two women who loved the same man find a way to heal – and help each other discover who Gray really was?

Review Card & Book Review- Melding 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?

About The Author

My Review

This story brings together Ellis, a strong single mum and business owner living with fibromyalgia, and Liam, an NHL star who’s just returned home still carrying feelings for her. Their unexpected reconnection leads to a one-night stand, and when Ellis discovers she’s pregnant, both are forced to re-examine their past and whether they can build a future together.

What makes this book stand out is the honest and sensitive portrayal of fibromyalgia. Tegan Phillips doesn’t gloss over Ellis’s condition—she weaves it naturally into Ellis’s daily life and her pregnancy journey, giving readers both representation and realism. It adds layers to Ellis’s character while highlighting a condition rarely given space in romance.

At its heart, this is a second-chance romance full of warmth, love, and emotional vulnerability. Liam’s steadfast devotion—not just to Ellis but also to her son—makes him a standout hero. Ellis’s guardedness could be frustrating, and her character growth sometimes felt restrained, but her resilience as a mother shone through. With a supportive cast and a heartfelt happily-ever-after, this book delivers an uplifting and emotionally rich read.