October 21, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – The Fix-Up By Sarah M. Peterson

Ellie should probably have listened to the part where inheriting her house came with a hot, grumpy stranger and six months to figure it all out…

Ellie Sterns is a twenty-eight-year-old single mother who only ever seems to date seriously questionable men. But she’s just inherited both a home and thriving café, so life is looking up. The catch? Only half belongs to Ellie—the other half goes to the previous owner’s grandson. Gilbert Dalton may be absurdly handsome, but his frown never wavers and he has a chip on his shoulder the size of a small country.

Ellie would happily spend the rest of her life avoiding him, but to claim their inheritance, they must first live on the property together for six months. For Ellie, the house and the café are her future. For Gil, they’re part of a past he wants nothing to do with. She wants to stay, he is determined to sell. Will they be able to decide what comes next without going to war with Ellie’s whisk and Gil’s toolbelt for weapons?

About The Author

My Review

The story centers around Ellie, Gil, and little Ollie, a trio that felt so vivid and authentic, it was as though I was living alongside them. Their chemistry, individual struggles, and growth were beautifully written, making it genuinely difficult to say goodbye when the last page turned. Even the secondary characters shone brightly, adding warmth, humor, and depth to the story without ever overshadowing the central romance.

Emotionally, this book is a journey. The author manages to blend heartbreak and healing with laugh-out-loud humor so seamlessly that I often found myself in tears—sometimes from sadness, other times from sheer joy. The story doesn’t rely on spice or drama to engage the reader. Instead, it leans into emotional resonance, wit, and heart, making it a standout clean romance that still delivers all the feels.

A particularly charming touch is how each chapter begins with a quote from a child explaining what love means to them. These little gems were not only adorable but also thematically spot-on, reflecting the emotional nuances of the characters’ journeys.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 21 October 2025

The Captain By Christi Caldwell

Miss Linnie McQuoid Smith has spent a lifetime dreaming of love, but the man she’s always longed for is no longer the one she remembers. Captain Jeremy Tremaine, once a devoted family friend, is now consumed by vengeance, his heart hardened by betrayal at sea.

Lord Culross, on the other hand, offers Linnie the kind of future she ought to want. Yet his quiet devotion and steadfast affection pale in comparison to the intoxicating and undeniable pull she feels toward Tremaine.

But Tremaine’s thirst for power threatens to eclipse their desire for one another, and the demons he carries may destroy them both. As shadows close in, Linnie must decide: the safe path of a love freely given, or the reckless passion that could cost her everything.

Big Nick Energy By Kristen Bailey

One woman, two Nicks, and a Christmas season that’s about to get very complicated.

When librarian Kay bumps into her ex-boyfriend Nick at a Christmas market, she thinks fate is finally giving her a second chance with her first big love. But then she gets spectacularly tangled in a Christmas tree-netting machine and meets another Nick entirely. One who cuts her free, dresses her wounds, and makes her pulse race in ways that thoroughly confuse her.

Finance Nick is successful, settled, and ready to talk five-year plans. Farmer Nick makes handcrafted furniture, supports local charities, and sees the creative spirit Kay has kept hidden behind her library desk. But how is a girl to choose?

Soon she’s spending her days delivering books to children’s hospitals and care homes with farmer Nick, before dashing home to whip off her reindeer onesie and glam up for romantic dates at the ballet with finance Nick.

But the countdown to Christmas is on, and Kay can’t keep this up forever. Somehow she must navigate London’s most complicated love triangle, avoid getting any more pine needles stuck in her hair – and work out once and for all which Nick has her heart.

Still Holding Out For You By Jennifer Carr

Still Holding Out for You will wreck you and put you back together.

They met chasing dreams on national TV.

What they found was something bigger than fame.

Austin Blake always thought ranch life was his future—until a chance encounter at a dusty Montana bar lands him a spot on Real American Country, a televised music competition that could change everything. When he meets Willow Gracin, a fiercely talented singer from Savannah with a heart full of lyrics and something to prove, sparks fly—on and off the stage.

As the cameras roll and the music plays, Austin and Willow find a connection deeper than either expected. But when the spotlight fades, life has its own rhythm—one that tests their strength, their love, and everything they thought they knew about purpose and passion.

When a tragic diagnosis threatens to silence their love song, country music stars Austin and Willow must fight for a future together in a way they never imagined. Spanning a decade of soaring highs and devastating lows, this is a story about the love you hold onto, the legacy you leave behind, and the music that carries you home, even after the last note has faded.

Review Card & Book Review- The Island Of Hopes And Dreams By Kate Frost

When the beginning of the end is just the start…✨

Newly single Lola Wild has had her fill of well-intentioned matchmaking friends. Her best friend Mirabel’s hen weekend highlights all that’s wrong with Lola’s life, and she knows something has to change.

With Mirabel’s luxurious wedding in Sardinia fast approaching, Lola is looking forward to switching off, spending time with her friends and keeping her non-existent love life off everyone’s agenda.

Meanwhile, fellow wedding guest Rhys Strickland has his own problems. So when a chance encounter brings Rhys and Lola together they decide to help each other out.

With the idyllic backdrop of white sand beaches and azure bays, they bond over shared heartache, and friendship blossoms as they attempt to navigate the hurt and hard truths of past relationships.

Opening up their hearts and embracing change might be the last thing they expected, but what if a holiday of make-believe can turn into something real?

About The Author

My Review

The story centers on Lola, newly single and skeptical about love, who travels to Sardinia for her best friend Mirabel’s wedding. Surrounded by couples and picture-perfect lives, Lola feels like an outsider—until she meets Rhys, the groom’s best friend, who’s also craving a break from the pressure. Together, they agree to fake a relationship to keep everyone at bay—but their connection soon begins to feel very real.

Although the fake-dating setup is well-trodden territory, Frost makes it fresh with well-drawn characters and emotional nuance. Lola’s personal journey—shaped by past trauma, self-doubt, and the discomfort of watching others seemingly have it all—is handled with honesty and care. Rhys isn’t just a romantic interest; he’s given his own backstory and depth, making their growing bond believable and rewarding.

For anyone navigating their thirties and feeling out of step with those around them, Lola’s experience will feel especially relevant. The book also gently highlights the value of open, honest conversations and how much we all benefit from connection and vulnerability. A delightful, thoughtful romance full of heart, humor, and scenic charm—perfect for readers who enjoy emotional journeys with a satisfying, hopeful ending.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo