November 13, 2025 – My Sanctuary

Fireworks At Pennycress Inn By Sarah Hope

🍂 Sparks are flying in more ways than one…

After years of juggling teaching with volunteering, Polly is finally ready for a change. When she lands her dream job at Meadowfield Nature Reserve – with the promise of a promotion in three months’ time – she trades in the stress of the classroom for the beautiful autumn days of the Cotswolds countryside.

Pennycress Inn is the perfect base for her fresh start: charming, cosy and filled with friendly faces. But everything changes when Zac, her attractive but infuriating ex-colleague, arrives. He’s here to take up a post at the reserve too – and is also staying at the inn! Worse still, the promotion Polly was counting on is suddenly up for grabs – and Zac’s her biggest rival.

With three months to prove herself, Polly must navigate village life, unexpected emotions and a career-defining challenge. As tension simmers and fireworks fly, will Meadowfield become the place she truly finds where she belongs – or will she be forced to walk away from everything she’s dreamed of?

Breaking His Rules By VH Nicolson

Paige: One night. One stranger. One mistake I can’t forget…

Max Hart is the last man on earth I’d ever want. We’re usually fighting it out on opposing sides of the courtroom, not diving headfirst into an illicit affair. I didn’t realize it was him when I let my inhibitions drop. Dating in the dark was meant to be anonymous, a thrill, and a way to escape my life for one night. But I didn’t expect to be drawn to the devil. Just one taste of Max Hart, and I’m in trouble. Because Max isn’t just my rival; he’s the one person who can destroy everything I’ve been hiding, yet I can’t seem to stay away.

Max: I will break all my rules…for her

I take pride in my bachelor status. I have four rules: no commitments, no relationships, no mentioning forever, and definitely no Paige Bradshaw. She’s brilliant, irritating, and always gets under my skin, but I love our fiery battles in the boardroom. Then one night, everything changes. The mystery woman who blew my mind? It was her. Now I can’t get Paige out of my head. I should know better. Resist temptation. Stay professional. But she has me wanting to burn all my rules to ashes and risk everything to learn more about the woman behind the mask.

Every night, Jasmine Ingilby dreams of delicate sugar flowers and perfectly swirled buttercream. By day, she steals moments between her cleaning shifts to craft stunning cakes from her tiny kitchen, hoping to transform her passion into something more. But as a fiercely independent single mother of two, finding time to grow her fledgling business feels like reaching for the impossible.

Just when her hard work seems about to pay off, Jasmine’s carefully balanced world begins to crumble. Her landlord puts a ‘For Sale’ sign outside her rented home. Then a figure from her past returns to town, reopening old wounds Jasmine thought had long healed and causing trouble at school for her young children.

Then Max Grainger – her childhood best friend – unexpectedly returns to Micklewick Bay after twenty-five years away, and Jasmine is blindsided by the emotions his presence stirs. Now a successful businessman with a son of his own, Max seems determined to solve all her problems. But years of self-reliance have built walls around Jasmine’s heart that even the sweetest gestures struggle to break through.

Will Jasmine’s fear of getting burned again stop her from accepting help when she needs it most? Or will the loyal support of her friends help her discover the perfect recipe for love?

About The Author

My Review

At the heart of the story is Jasmine Ingilby, a determined single mother working multiple cleaning jobs by day while nurturing her dream of running a cake-baking business by night. Life has tested her strength time and again, and just as she begins to see glimmers of progress, she faces a trio of setbacks—the threat of losing her home, her children’s growing struggles, and the sudden return of someone she thought she’d left in the past.

That someone is Max Grainger, her childhood best friend who’s now a successful businessman and single father. His unexpected return to Micklewick Bay after twenty-five years sparks a slow, tender reconnection built on shared memories and quiet understanding. Scott writes their journey with sensitivity and realism, allowing their bond to unfold naturally without unnecessary melodrama.

What makes the story shine is its emotional honesty. Jasmine isn’t portrayed as someone waiting to be saved but as a proud, resilient woman learning to trust again. Max’s steady kindness softens her defenses, resulting in a touching exploration of hope, healing, and second chances.

My Rating