October 13, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Over The Sea To Skye By Sue Moorcroft

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…

Valentina Taylor’s life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.

But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…

Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.

Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?

About The Author

My Review

In the final book of the Wynter sisters trilogy, Valentina—eldest sister, devoted mother, and seemingly stable wife—finds her marriage falling apart. She retreats to her holiday home on the Isle of Skye with her son and reconnects with her sisters, hoping for a quiet summer. But when she meets Xander, an American tourist with troubles of his own, a new romance begins to blossom. As Valentina navigates divorce, single parenthood, and complex family ties, she must decide if she’s finally ready to put herself first.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Skye and rich with emotional depth, Over the Sea is a heartwarming, romantic story about second chances, sisterhood, and self-discovery.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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Happy Publication Day – 13 October 2025

Dreams Come True At The Fairytale Museum By Jaimie Admans

place where dreams come true…

Lissa’s heart belongs to the Colours of the Wind museum, a charming haven where fairytale artifacts whisper tales of old. But her quiet magic is shattered when a sleek real estate firm buys the building, threatening to demolish her beloved museum. Lissa is devastated and ready to fight.

Enter Warren Berrington, the infuriatingly handsome developer whose modern vision clashes with her quirky world. He talks budgets; she dreams of wishing wells. Yet, Warren offers a lifeline: three months to save the museum, and despite their fiery arguments, a curious spark ignites between them.

Then, true enchantment begins. Spinning wheels whir, glass slippers vanish, and enchanted objects embark on whimsical adventures, making the museum an overnight sensation. Lissa dares to hope her dreams are finally within reach.

But she can’t shake the feeling Warren is playing games. Could he be orchestrating events for a clever ploy, or is Ever After Street weaving a new fairytale, one that might just involve her heart?

Christmas At Sturcombe Bay By Susanne McCarthy

Two broken hearts. One magical Christmas by the sea.

When Jess calls off her wedding just weeks before the big day, she escapes to the coastal village of Sturcombe Bay for a fresh start.

Swapping wedding plans for Christmas preparation at the fading Carleton Hotel, she’s not looking for love — until she meets Paul Channing, a rugged local with secrets of his own.

Shelley doesn’t let people in — not even at Christmas. But when kind-hearted Canadian pilot Daniel Crocombe steps in to defend her at the Carleton Hotel, his quiet warmth begins to break through her walls. With Christmas approaching, can Shelley believe she’s worthy of the love she’s always longed for?

As fairy lights go up around the village and snow dusts the bay, Jess and Shelley must find the courage to let go of the past — and discover that love often arrives when you least expect it.

A Cozy Kind Of Christmas By Ellie Alexander

Journalist Meg Reed is about to find out that sometimes the best stories aren’t the ones you’re assigned to write— they’re the ones you’re brave enough to live.

Meg thought she’d closed the door on her past when she left Oregon—and her ex, Matt Parker—for her dream job at ESPN. But when her editor assigns her to cover a winter sports event during the holidays, Meg finds herself face-to-face with everything she left behind.

Matt’s throwing his thirtieth birthday bash, and Meg’s determined to keep things professional—attend the party for old time’s sake, cover the story and get back to her carefully constructed life in New York.

And then she sees Matt again.

When their eyes meet across the festive lodge with its crackling fire and glittering Christmas trees, seven years dissolve in an instant. The chemistry that once burned between them flickers back to life, bringing with it all the complicated feelings she thought she’d dealt with.

As Meg sips hot chocolate in her cozy log cabin and tries to focus on crafting her feature story, she can’t shake the pull of old dreams and new possibilities. Some feelings don’t fade—and some people are worth fighting for. But is it too late for second chances?

Review Card & Book Review- Scotch On The Rocks By Elliot Fletcher

When you live on a tiny island, it’s easy to stir up a scandal…

For Callum Macabe, there’s no one better than Juniper Ross. She’s razor-tongued, sarcastic, elusive. And not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.

There’s just one problem: his brother got there first.

And even though Juniper and Alistair split up five years ago, Callum knows he could never break the actual bro code. Or could he?

About The Author

My Review

Scotch on the Rocks is a charming return to the Isle of Skye and everything I adored about Whiskey Business. This time, we follow Juniper—an independent, emotionally avoidant, black-cat-energy heroine (relatable!)—who’s quietly managing a refurbishment at the local inn she helps run. Her next-door neighbor? None other than a Macabe brother: Callum, a golden retriever of a man, vet by profession, endlessly capable, and hopelessly devoted to her.

This book delivers all the best elements of small-town romance: sizzling slow burn, delicious tension, heartfelt moments, and some serious spice. The opening scene hooked me immediately, and the rest of the story absolutely delivers on that promise. The village is vivid and brimming with personality—I found myself just as invested in the side characters and their gossip as I was in Juniper and Callum’s relationship. Shakespeare the cat? An unexpected star.

The chemistry between Juniper and Callum is magnetic. Their banter, nicknames, and long-standing emotional tension kept me grinning and blushing. And it was such a treat to see April and Mal again—Mal continues to be comedy gold.

Beyond the romance, the book sensitively explores deeper themes like family illness, hyper-independence, creative burnout, and unresolved family tension. It strikes a perfect balance between cozy, swoony escapism and real emotional depth.