October 17, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – Beside The Turquoise Sea By Emma Burstall

Can one magical Crete villa change everything?

Now her children have moved out, Edie has begun to feel lonely in the home she shares with her husband. She hopes returning to Crete, where she and Ralph spent their honeymoon, will help heal the growing rift between them.

And when Edie stumbles upon the website for the Villa Ariadne, with its breathtaking views and peaceful surroundings, it feels like the perfect place to spend a week together, along with their closest friends Mac and Hannah. But then, Edie invites a fifth guest: her feisty, independent colleague Jessica, with unexpected consequences.

It’s clear from the moment they arrive that the villa is special, and under the golden Greek sun, Edie hopes to rekindle the relationship she’s felt slipping away from her. But when conflict arises between two of her fellow guests, will Edie be prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?

About The Author

My Review

This book swept me away with its vivid setting and emotionally resonant storytelling. What begins as a hopeful escape to rekindle a fading marriage slowly unfolds into a profound journey of self-discovery, friendship, and the pivotal choices that define midlife.

Edie is a relatable and quietly courageous protagonist. Her decision to return to Crete—the place of her honeymoon—is steeped in longing: for reconnection, clarity, and a spark she fears has dimmed. The Villa Ariadne, with its dreamy views and tranquil charm, serves as both sanctuary and crucible, revealing truths that have long simmered beneath the surface.When Edie invites her bold and unpredictable colleague Jessica to join them, the trip takes an unexpected turn. Tensions simmer, long-held secrets unravel, and the emotional stakes rise. The group’s interactions are layered and authentic, adding a depth that elevates this beyond a typical sun-drenched holiday read.

More than a story of sunshine and sea, this novel is a moving reflection on letting go of illusions and choosing the life that truly fulfills you.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 17 October 2025

A Snowy Seaside Christmas By Eliza J Scott

As snow falls over Micklewick Bay, Lark Harker is preparing for the busy festive season at her vintage clothing boutique, creating enchanting window displays of sequinned dresses and crafting handmade Christmas decorations from shimmering silk ribbon.

But her festive preparations are put on hold when Nate Wilkinson arrives at her cottage door. The owner of a local upcycling business, Nate asks for her help clearing out the long-abandoned Crayke’s Cottage – a place locals whisper is cursed and haunted by its smuggling past.

Deep within the cottage’s shadowy rooms, Lark discovers two mysterious leather suitcases. The first reveals a treasure trove of 1940s clothes that sparkle with wartime romance and mystery. But the second holds a darker collection: smuggling artefacts, cryptic coded messages and a rusty iron key that gets Lark’s mind racing.

As Lark consults the town’s museum curator to unlock the suitcases’ secrets, she finds herself torn between growing feelings for her dear friend Nate and her inexplicable intuition that warns her away from love. When the rusty key leads to a shocking discovery in the cottage, Lark must trust her instincts and overcome her fears to finally find the greatest treasure of all…

Review Card & Book Review – Everything’s Coming Up Rosie By Courtney Walsh

Rosie Waterman has one dream: to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming, feel-good rom-com that delivers exactly what many readers need—a joyful escape. In this lighthearted novel, Courtney Walsh introduces Rosie, a struggling actress whose dreams of Broadway have fizzled. With nothing left, she returns to her small hometown, ashamed and hiding her failures from her successful friends.

When a mysterious job offer lands in her inbox, Rosie jumps at the chance without reading the fine print. What follows is a heartwarming journey of self-discovery, unexpected surprises, and the kind of personal growth that only comes when life veers wildly off script.

Rosie is relatable in her vulnerability and self-doubt, yet her journey is full of warmth, humor, and hope. The story is refreshingly clean, uplifting, and threaded with themes of second chances and the power of believing in yourself—even when life doesn’t go as planned.