March 3, 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – Still Holding Out For You By Jennifer Carr

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.

About The Author

My Review

This is an emotional and beautifully written sweet romance that strikes all the right chords. Austin and Willow’s love story begins on stage, where their connection through music is undeniable—blending harmonies, lyrics, and hearts. Their chemistry is both artistic and deeply personal, evolving into a tender marriage that seems destined for forever. But when life throws them an unexpected challenge, Willow is faced with a heartbreaking choice that tests the strength of their love and their shared dreams.

Carr masterfully crafts a romance that’s as heartfelt as it is poignant, weaving in themes of love, loss, resilience, and hope. The emotional depth of the characters makes their journey feel incredibly real, and the musical backdrop adds a lyrical quality that enhances the story’s intimacy. Readers will laugh, cry, and ultimately be uplifted by the message of courage and unconditional love.

Touching, romantic, and full of heart, this is an inspiring story that lingers long after the final note fades.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 3 March 2026

Almost Real By Nicole Snow

Lena Joly has a fierce soul for healing every pet who limps into her struggling clinic. Taming human jerkwads is nothing new—until the day Brady Pruitt storms in with an adorable lost puppy.

There’s nothing cute about him. His wicked reputation overshadows devastating good looks and a jaw-dropping fortune. She’s relieved to send Seattle’s infamous bad boy billionaire packing and get back to fighting for her clinic. But Brady already decided the spitfire who ranks him lower than a banana peel can convince his family he’s finally respectable.

Lena could scream. A temporary “engagement” to fool his optics-obsessed parents? An obscene payday to keep tails wagging forever? And practice kissing?

Holy hell. The girl with barbed wire guarding her scarred love life can’t hide when the butterflies hit. And after their love for animals sweeps them away, after pillow talk becomes bad habit, after it feels too real, two stone hearts will be glorious confetti…

It Seemed Like A Good Idea By Lauren Blakely

I really don’t need a bodyguard—I run a small-town lavender farm, for bee’s sake! But I’m getting one anyway since my identical twin sister just booked the movie role of a lifetime and it’s being shot in my hometown. And guess who my new broody, tattooed protector is? None other than the guy I had a one-night stand with last month.

Correction: he’s the guy with the wicked mouth and heated eyes who ran out on me before the bang without so much as goodbye. And of course he arrives in my tiny hometown where the film is shooting right in the nick of time to save me from the paparazzi at the market. The coffee shop. The dress shop too. I’m trying hard to stay mad after the third time the sexy jerk rescues me.

Maybe just one night would relieve all this tension? But one night turns into another, and then into sharing hearts and secrets that are best locked up. Especially since he’s leaving and I’m staying, and there’s no way we can be more than a summer romance that ends far too soon.

The Sailor By Susan Stoker

Like his brothers, Zach Young has recently moved home to Maine after the untimely death of his father. In addition to helping his mom maintain Lobster Cove, the family’s beloved property, the Navy cook has big dreams of opening his own restaurant…but, for now, has reluctantly settled for a lobster shack. Not exactly what he had in mind, though a new lobsterwoman in town has made his daily trips to the docks worthwhile.

Having been literally bullied out of her last port city a little farther down the coast, Marit Phillips isn’t in Rockville long before the familiar grumblings begin…hardened lobstermen thinking a petite woman can’t possibly do the job, no matter how experienced. Fortunately, her new boss judges her based on work ethic…and the handsome cook who visits their boat every day? He seems to see things in Marit that even she doesn’t.

But as much as Zach builds her up, there’s another man in town, his polar opposite, trying to tear her down. And he proves more determined than the couple thought possible…

Review Card & Book Review- 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.

About The Author

My Review

This is a delightful, feel-good Christmas romance filled with warmth, humor, and festive charm. The story follows Kay, who’s been carrying the sting of being dumped by her boyfriend, Nick, in the middle of pub trivia night eight years ago. When fate brings them back together during the holidays, old sparks fly—but complicating matters is “New Nick,” a kind and thoughtful man she meets at a Christmas tree farm who helps her organize a local book drive.

Bailey balances the nostalgia of second chances with the excitement of new beginnings, creating a charming love triangle that feels real rather than contrived. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the cozy atmosphere, witty dialogue, and believable emotional beats make it a pleasure to read. There’s no explicit content, making it perfect for fans of clean romances with plenty of heart.

With its festive setting and relatable characters, this is a comforting holiday read that reminds readers love can surprise you twice—once from the past, and once from the unexpected present.

My Rating