March 5, 2026 – My Sanctuary

The Summer Everything Changed By Sian O’Gorman

Is it ever too late to reclaim the life you never lived?

Rosie O’Malley has not drawn breath after tragically losing her mother and then being abandoned by the one man she knew she loved.
Burying her grief and heartbreak, Rosie threw herself into running Sandycove’s Cliff Top hotel determined to make a success of her mother’s legacy and keep a roof over her family’s heads. It’s now ten years later and this weekend, the hotel throws open its doors to host its very first wedding.

Boston-based Patrick Power touches down at Dublin Airport for his brother’s Seán’s wedding, having dedicated the last decade to building his thriving Irish restaurant business. A decade earlier, he left behind the love of his life and try as he might, he’s never been able to forget her.

Imagine Patrick’s shock when he discovers the wedding is being held in Cliff Top, Rosie’s hotel – the girl he let slip away.

As Sandycove shimmers in a heatwave, can Patrick navigate a family wedding as well as his own feelings? And will Rosie realise she’s been living her late mother’s life and not her own? Can she forgive Patrick for leaving her or will ambition and responsibility once again stand in the way of love?

A Wedding At The Little Bookshop By The Sea By Eliza J Scott

Booksellers Florrie Appleton and her fiancé, Ed, are just three weeks away from their dream wedding. Between hand-selling beloved classics, unveiling Ed’s enchanting window displays and hosting lively book readings with local authors, they’ve managed to plan an intimate ceremony that promises to be everything they’ve ever hoped for – filled with literary delights, lots of laughter and the love of those closest to them.

But when Ed’s mother, Dawn, arrives unannounced on their doorstep, Florrie’s world is thrown into chaos like confetti. Dawn claims she’s come to help with the wedding preparations, yet she’s never shown the slightest interest in her son before. As she starts dismissing their carefully curated shelves and snooping around their cosy cottage, Florrie can’t shake the feeling that Dawn’s plans stretch far beyond simply choosing flowers and cake.

With her close-knit group of friends rallying around her and the bookshop’s loyal customers offering support, can Florrie protect her relationship and the bookshop that means everything to her and Ed? Or will their happily ever after slip through their fingers like pages torn from one of her treasured books?

As I hold my daughter’s newborn baby to my chest, my heart breaks knowing she didn’t live to meet her son. Someone will need to raise this child, but who will fight the hardest?

When I get the call my estranged daughter Sophie is in labor and that there are complications, I can barely breathe. It’s been months since I spoke to her—I had no idea she was even pregnant. I rush to the hospital, tears streaming down my face. But as I run through the hospital doors and see the nurses’ faces, I realize I am already too late.

I look down at the precious baby she left behind, swaddled in a blanket with perfect rosy cheeks. My husband and I could give him a stable, loving home. It would be a second chance for us. Because we didn’t get it right with Sophie—no matter how hard we tried, I know we failed her. This is our chance to finally make things right.

But then I meet the tear-filled gaze of my son-in-law, Tom, and realize it isn’t going to be that simple. He is the reason we didn’t have a relationship with our daughter. My husband is sure his troubled past will mean we get custody. But now Sophie is gone, is it time to give Tom a second chance? Or is it foolish to trust someone we don’t even know?

My chest aches as I realize I have no idea what Sophie would have wanted, or even what I truly want. Because I have secrets of my own… secrets that Tom doesn’t know and never should. Should I fight to raise my daughter’s baby myself, even if it costs me everything?

About The Author

My Review

This is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking story about grief, forgiveness, and the complicated bonds of family. When Diana and her husband Andrew are suddenly faced with the devastating loss of their estranged daughter Sophie, they must navigate their guilt, anger, and love while caring for the grandson she leaves behind. Their decision to let Sophie’s partner, Tom—whom they never approved of—stay with them creates a tense yet powerful exploration of trust, compassion, and healing.

Hewitt excels at crafting emotionally charged family dramas that challenge readers to ask themselves, What would I do? The moral dilemmas at the heart of this story feel achingly real: the clash between grief and control, judgment and acceptance, love and pride. Each character is flawed yet deeply human, making their growth all the more satisfying.

Ultimately, this novel reminds us that family isn’t about perfection but perseverance—about learning to forgive, to listen, and to love again, even when the past feels impossible to overcome. Moving, honest, and beautifully written.

My Rating