October 27, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop By Annabel French

One fresh start. One unexpected encounter. Can love bridge the gap?

When Rosie leaves behind her ordinary life in England to open a flower shop on Amsterdam’s water, she expects nothing less than a fairytale.

Max, her handsome but brooding new neighbour, prefers to keep the world at arm’s length – and living on the houseboat next door, he’s not too thrilled about the new company.

As Rosie’s business blossoms, so do her feelings for Max. But Rosie isn’t sure she’s ready for a relationship, and Max is still nursing a broken heart.

Then a rival in the flower market threatens her dreams, Rosie discovers that the most beautiful things can bloom when you learn to go with the flow – and allow someone to stand by your side.

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming and heartwarming story about fresh starts, friendship, and finding your place in the world. When Rosie decides to leave her old life behind and follow her dream of owning a flower shop, she finds herself in the beautiful, quirky city of Amsterdam—living on a rickety old houseboat with a rather grumpy neighbour next door. And so, her new adventure begins.

Rosie is a thoroughly likeable heroine—warm, determined, and easy to root for. From the very beginning, you find yourself willing her to succeed. The friendships she forms, particularly with Emma and Finn, are a highlight of the book. Their connection brings heart and humour, and you can sense there’s more to their stories yet to come.

While romance is part of the plot, it’s not the only focus—and that’s what makes this book special. It’s about growth, taking chances, and building something new after life has thrown you off course.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 27 October 2025

Christmas At The Scottish Lodge By Donna Ashcroft

Thirty-three-year-oldMairi is spending Christmas at her Aunt Effie’s ski lodge. It’s her favourite place, where she spent every childhood holiday, and the comforting view of the mountain tops is just what she needs after a rollercoaster year. But Mairi finds herself unexpectedly snowed in, along with her handsome ex Jed Murray…

As the snowflakes fall heavily outside, she closes her eyes to block out the sight of Jed’s dark hair and broad shoulders, his muscles flexing as he stacks the logs he’s gathered to build them a fire. But even though they’re united in their goal of getting Effie’s lodge ready for Christmas, Mairi is determined not to fall for Jed again.

Except moving on from him is easier said than done when they’re in such close quarters. Their time together draping tinsel around the Christmas tree and baking gingerbread cookies in the kitchen makes the memories of how good they were together all come rushing back. But will Jed reveal the real reason he left and earn Mairi’s trust once more?

Christmas Wishes & Irish Kisses By Debbie Johnson

From crying into Santa’s beard at Macy’s department store, to working the bar at a historic seaside inn thousands of miles away, Ellie de Vere has been through it all this Christmas season…

When Ellie trades her hectic New York life for the twinkling lights and snow-dusted charm of her childhood village of St Tilda, it’s only to help her ailing father through the Christmas rush at their cozy family inn.

But all the festive holly, crackling fires and mulled cider in the world can’t prepare Ellie for who she finds waiting for her back home. Her ex best friend Liam is also in town for the holidays… and they haven’t seen each other in twenty years. He’s now a devastatingly handsome single father with the same Irish lilt that always made her breath catch. If only he hadn’t broken her heart irreparably all those years ago…

Can Ellie forgive Liam for what he did that disastrous final night in St Tilda? And is he even the same man she used to know? As Christmas approaches and old feelings refuse to stay buried, will Ellie finally find the courage to rewrite her future?

Review Card & Book Review- A Place In The Sun By Jo Thomas

It’s never too late to find where you belong…

Thea knew the holiday house her late husband Marco bought in Tuscany wasn’t pristine. But when she relocates to Italy for the summer with her children, she’s shocked by how much work Casa Luna needs. And she only has six weeks to fix it up ready to sell! Her only option is to ask the tight-knit Italian community for help.

In return, Thea and her children become involved in the community kitchen, working alongside handsome chef Giovanni and three very competitive nonnas. Gradually, Thea begins to open up to the people around her for the first time in a long while. But just as she’s beginning to wonder whether this small Tuscan town could become a new place to call home, a surprise visitor turns everything on its head . . .

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartwarming and uplifting story about love, loss, and finding home in unexpected places. The novel follows Thea and her two children, Luca and Aimee, as they travel to Tuscany in the wake of her husband Marco’s death. Nearly two years on, they arrive at Casa Luna—a crumbling property Marco purchased before he passed away, and a place Thea has only just found the courage to face. What unfolds is a touching journey of healing, as Thea begins to rediscover herself while restoring the house and finding her place in a close-knit Italian village. Along the way, she’s supported by a cast of vibrant characters, each bringing charm and richness to the story. The three wonderful nonnas are especially memorable, adding warmth, wisdom, and more than a few laughs. This is a lovely, feel-good read about second chances, resilience, and the bonds that hold us together.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon