March 2026 – Page 4 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Lost Alaskan Memories By Heidi McCahan

An unexpected homecoming
brings another chance at love.

For two years, mountaineer Max Butler was presumed dead after a tragic climbing accident in Peru…until his return to his small town of Opportunity, Alaska. But now a traumatic brain injury keeps him from remembering his former life and who he left behind—including physical therapist Hayley Morgan. Heartbroken after Max chose his mountaineering dreams over her, Hayley is determined to guard her heart against him, even as he steps in to help her with babysitting duties for his infant sister. As Max slowly regains fragments of his past and buried feelings resurface, can Hayley convince him to stay…for a second chance at happiness?

About The Author

My Review

This is a tender, faith-filled romance about second chances, forgiveness, and rediscovering love after loss. The story follows Max Butler, who vanished after a mountain-climbing accident in Peru and was presumed dead. Two years later, he returns home to Opportunity, Alaska—alive but with no memory of his past, including Hayley Morgan, the woman he once loved and left behind.

Hayley has worked hard to rebuild her life and pursue her dream of creating an indoor recreation center, but Max’s sudden reappearance stirs old emotions and unfinished heartache. As Max reconnects with his family and slowly integrates into the small-town community, his gentle spirit and kindness begin to touch Hayley’s heart once again. Yet, the pain of the past and the uncertainty of his memory make their path to reconciliation far from simple.

McCahan’s writing radiates warmth, hope, and emotional honesty. With beautifully drawn characters, a strong sense of place, and a poignant exploration of healing and faith, Lost Alaskan Memories is a captivating story of love rediscovered and the grace of new beginnings.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – It’s Not Me, It’s You By Jo Lovett

Freya writes bestselling romance novels for a living, but off the page, she doesn’t believe in happy endings.

Jake is a divorced divorce lawyer who does believe in romance – despite every day seeing the results of failed relationships.

When a TV news segment captures their very public disagreement about modern love, the clip goes viral, and to settle the debate, they strike a deal: Jake will find Freya her perfect match, and Freya will convince Jake that romance is a fairy tale best left in fiction.

The rules are simple. The stakes are high. And the chemistry? Undeniable.

About The Author

My Review

This is a sharp, funny, and wonderfully heartfelt romantic comedy that delivers equal measures of laughter and emotion. The story follows Freya, a romance novelist who no longer believes in happy endings, and Jake, a cynical yet secretly hopeful divorce lawyer. When their fiery exchange on a live TV show about love and marriage goes viral, they make a daring bet: Jake will help Freya find her perfect match, while she’ll convince him that romance is a myth. What follows is a delightful mix of witty clashes, unexpected vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry.

Lovett writes with warmth and intelligence, crafting characters who feel authentic and deeply human. The banter sparkles, the comedic moments land perfectly, and the quieter, emotional scenes resonate with sincerity. The novel beautifully captures how fear of heartbreak can shape our choices and how love often arrives when least expected. With its perfect blend of humor, heart, and hope, It’s Not Me, It’s You is a feel-good gem that reminds readers that sometimes the best love stories start with an argument.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Review Card & Book Review- 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?

About The Author

My Review

This is a witty, sparkling, and heartwarming festive romance that perfectly blends humor, emotion, and holiday cheer. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of a snowy Scottish village, the story follows Mairi, a romance author with trust issues, and Jed, a former skier burdened by family expectations. Though they come from different worlds, their chemistry is undeniable, and their journey toward love is as tender as it is passionate.

Ashcroft excels at crafting relatable, flawed, yet deeply lovable characters whose emotional growth feels authentic. The novel explores themes of forgiveness, self-worth, and the courage to open one’s heart again. The relationships—both romantic and familial—are beautifully layered, enriched by supportive friends, lively pets, and plenty of festive sparkle.

Ashcroft’s vivid descriptions bring the Scottish winter to life, from the scent of pine to the twinkle of fairy lights. Uplifting, romantic, and filled with second chances, Christmas at the Scottish Lodge is pure festive joy—a story that warms the heart, soothes the soul, and reminds us of love’s quiet magic.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Review- Christmas Wishes And 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?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartwarming festive tale brimming with charm, emotion, and a touch of Irish magic. It tells the story of Ellie, a woman who swapped her peaceful Irish roots for the fast-paced life of New York. When she returns to her hometown of St. Tilda to care for her ailing mother, she’s confronted by the memories—and people—she thought she’d left behind.

What begins as an unwelcome homecoming slowly turns into a healing journey filled with rediscovery, forgiveness, and love. Johnson beautifully captures the spirit of Christmas—the glow of fairy lights, the comfort of community, and the courage it takes to open one’s heart again. Ellie’s transformation feels tender and authentic, while the romance that blooms along the way adds warmth without overshadowing her personal growth.

With her trademark humor, rich emotional depth, and vivid sense of place, Johnson crafts a cozy, uplifting read. Christmas Wishes & Irish Kisses is a beautifully written reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are second chances and the rediscovery of home.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Review- For One Moment With You By Debbie Howells

What if you met the one a week before your wedding to another man?

When Tilly meets Adam, just a week before she’s about to marry Gareth, she knows it can never be. She’s made a commitment, and it’s one she knows she has to stick with, however strong the pull is between them.

Tilly and Adam’s paths will cross, again and again, over twenty years. But Tilly’s a wife now, a mother too, not to mention a person looking after her ailing parent… Sometimes it feels like she’s forgotten how to be herself. It’s only when Gareth drops a bombshell about their marriage, that she decides to put herself at the centre of her own story.

So she books a one-way ticket to San Jose – a place she’s only heard about in a song. But fate seems to be leading her in another direction… and perhaps to exactly the place she’s meant to be, and to the person she’s meant to be with.

About The Author

My Review

This is an exquisitely written, emotionally resonant story about love, timing, and the choices that shape a life. Debbie Howells captures the quiet heartbreak of missed chances and the courage it takes to rediscover oneself after years of living for others. The novel follows Tilly, who, just a week before her wedding to the dependable Gareth, meets Adam—a man who awakens a deep sense of possibility and passion. Over the next two decades, as Tilly becomes a wife, mother, and caregiver, the memory of that fleeting connection lingers, reminding her of the woman she once dreamed of being.

Howells writes with a tenderness reminiscent of Jojo Moyes and David Nicholls, balancing melancholy with hope. Her prose is both lyrical and grounded, evoking the ache of “what if” while celebrating resilience and renewal. Tilly’s emotional journey feels authentic and deeply human—a testament to the complexity of love and the quiet bravery required to reclaim one’s happiness. Poignant, reflective, and beautifully crafted, this novel lingers like a wistful melody.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 13 March 2026

If I Had My Time Again By Linda Green

How would you live your life differently, if you had a second chance?

Emily, Carl and Jules have all ‘gone before their time’. After dying on the same day in Halifax, West Yorkshire, they each wake up in a room in a hotel on the outskirts of town. They’re instructed to meet in the basement headquarters of film production company ‘End Credits’, where no-nonsense producer Suzi tells them their lives have been secretly filmed and they must edit their own biopic before they are able to move on.

There are only three rules: they can’t prevent their own deaths or anyone else’s, they can’t kill anyone but they can make a director’s cut – one change which will alter everything that comes after.

Review Card & Book Review- Blue Collar Billionaire By Amy Andrews

As a busy ER intern, Holly Vincent doesn’t have time for extracurricular activities.

But when she’s stranded in a broken elevator for a few hours with irritatingly cocky, hotter-than-the-sun, downstairs neighbour Danny Colton, she decides to bend her rules and let the filthy-mouthed hottie talk her into having some fun.

Drummer by night, and maintenance man by day, Danny Colton is more than happy to show bookish Dr Prim what she’s been missing out on. After all, what else are they going to do until they’re rescued?

But when it’s back to reality, one wild tryst night isn’t enough for Danny and whilst they’re drawn to each other like magnets, Holly has no time for dating between study and the unrelenting exhaustion of shiftwork.

Suddenly, though, Danny’s world changes in the form of a surprise billion-dollar inheritance, and he figures it could be the key to winning Holly’s heart. Wrong. He soon finds out that money can’t buy him love. For that, he’s going to need to be much more creative!

About The Author

My Review

This is a steamy, opposites-attract romance that hooks you from the first snarky exchange. Holly, a no-nonsense ER doctor, is used to keeping control—until Danny, the tattooed, easygoing drummer-slash-handyman, throws her carefully ordered life into chaos. Their chemistry crackles with tension, and when fate traps them together in an elevator, sparks turn into a full-on fire. What follows is a flirty, fast-paced story about letting go, taking risks, and finding unexpected connection in the least likely places.

Amy Andrews excels at balancing heat and humor, making Danny irresistible—a perfect mix of cocky charm and genuine warmth. Holly’s stubborn, overthinking nature makes her relatable, even when she’s fighting what’s clearly meant to be. The banter is sharp, the intimacy electric, and the emotional payoff satisfying.

If you love short, sexy reads with strong chemistry and heart, Blue Collar Billionaire is a fun, flirty escape worth picking up.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 12 March 2026

Six Little Words By Sally Page

Can one small note give her the courage to find a new path?

One Note. One Act of kindness. Her new beginning is closer than she thinks.

Kate gave up her dreams of being a painter years ago. But six little words pinned to the noticeboard of her local café could change her path forever.

‘To be, or not to be…’ – printed on orange card with no explanation – appears one morning.

Each day, a new line from a different Shakespeare play is added, sparking curiosity throughout the café. Among the regulars is Bardy, a retired English teacher grappling with writer’s block.

As Kate and Bardy follow this breadcrumb trail, they discover a local community group encouraging people to rediscover their own creative spark – and the long-lost courage to chase it.

For Kate, their new group might just offer a second chance at happiness, if only Bardy can find the strength to share his story too…

Home Sweet Home In Brambleton By Fay Keenan

Following a less-than-picture-book childhood, Bella West has got used to moving around – putting down roots opens you up for disappointment and heartbreak. But since arriving in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton, something has changed.

Bella loves her job at Purrfect Paws cat rescue and the many residents love her back. So, when one particularly grumpy Bengal named Monty proves hard to charm, Bella is determined to find out his story.

When Noah Hathaway’s beloved Grandpa Jack passes away it falls to him to deal with his estate including his charming but run-down cottage in Lower Brambleton, not forgetting Jack’s cantankerous cat Monty. Busy with a life in London, Noah wants to settle things quickly, but countryside life has its own pace and slowly but inexorably the charms of Lower Brambleton begin to work their magic on Noah.

Can one morose moggy, one perfect English village and one endless countryside summer teach Bella and Noah the meaning of home and the joy of taking a chance on love?

The Last Page Cafe By Kate Storey

Sometimes the last page is just the beginning…

At fifty-four, Erin McRae feels like she’s living in the margins of her own story. Her son is preparing to fly the nest, and the rent increase on the café she loves to run means she’s going to have to close up shop. Her greatest escape is the mismatched book club she founded, bound together by one unusual rule: they choose their next book based solely on the last page.

But when the book club discusses what their own last pages might say, Erin and her fellow members begin to see their own lives in unexpected ways.

As the club’s discussions grow deeper, long-buried secrets surface, old wounds start to heal – and romance leaps off the page. With The Bookmark under threat of closure, Erin must ask herself: can she write herself a happier story?

Review Card & Book Review- A Cozy Kind Of Christmas By Ellie Alexander

Journalist Meg Reed is about to find out that sometimes the best stories aren’t the ones you’re assigned to write— they’re the ones you’re brave enough to live.

Meg thought she’d closed the door on her past when she left Oregon—and her ex, Matt Parker—for her dream job at ESPN. But when her editor assigns her to cover a winter sports event during the holidays, Meg finds herself face-to-face with everything she left behind.

Matt’s throwing his thirtieth birthday bash, and Meg’s determined to keep things professional—attend the party for old time’s sake, cover the story and get back to her carefully constructed life in New York.

And then she sees Matt again.

When their eyes meet across the festive lodge with its crackling fire and glittering Christmas trees, seven years dissolve in an instant. The chemistry that once burned between them flickers back to life, bringing with it all the complicated feelings she thought she’d dealt with.

As Meg sips hot chocolate in her cozy log cabin and tries to focus on crafting her feature story, she can’t shake the pull of old dreams and new possibilities. Some feelings don’t fade—and some people are worth fighting for. But is it too late for second chances?

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, feel-good holiday tale about friendship, second chances, and rediscovering what truly matters. Set against the charming backdrop of a snow-dusted Oregon town, the story follows Meg, a driven ESPN reporter returning home to cover a news story—only to cross paths with her ex, Matt, whose easy charm and steady presence reignite old feelings.

Told through the perspectives of Meg, her boss Johanna, and her best friend Jill, the novel beautifully intertwines three women’s emotional journeys. Each faces crossroads in love and life—Meg with her career-versus-heart dilemma, Johanna with her crumbling relationship, and Jill with her own hidden struggles. Alexander masterfully balances humor and heart, wrapping each storyline in the comforting glow of friendship and festive spirit.

Filled with cozy small-town charm, nostalgic holiday moments, and the reminder that home is as much about people as place, A Cozy Kind of Christmas is a delightful, uplifting read. Perfect for curling up with a blanket and a mug of cocoa, it captures the true magic of Christmas connection.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Card – The Monday Night Heartbreak Club By Jane Lovering

Is your love life a bit of a disaster? You’re not alone…

When Fee finds herself drunk, dumped and directionless on Valentine’s Day, she stumbles across a flyer for a new club, for people united by heartbreak. Intrigued, she joins a motley group of strangers at a quiet Yorkshire wine bar the following Monday night.

There’s Margot, in the middle of a bitter divorce;

Annie, whose husband of forty years she suspects is having an affair;

Wren, quietly nursing her own romantic regrets;

and Fraser, who may have mistaken the group for a dating opportunity.

But what begins as a weekly wallow soon becomes something more, especially when the club starts an undercover operation to discover the truth about Annie’s husband and his infidelity.

For Fee, who’s only just holding on to any self-worth she had left, the Monday Night Heartbreak Club offers something she never expected: purpose, friendship and maybe even a fresh start.

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, witty, and deeply human story about heartbreak, healing, and the unexpected families we build when life falls apart. Fee, fresh from a disastrous breakup and nursing a bruised heart (and hangover), stumbles into the quirky but welcoming circle of the Monday Night Heartbreak Club—a mismatched group of lonely souls united by disappointment in love.

Lovering’s signature humor and emotional insight shine as she introduces a cast of endearing characters: formidable Margot, sweet Annie, recently single Wren, cheeky Fraser, and Flynn, the sardonic bartender who brings charm and quiet depth. As the group rallies around Annie, their shared compassion and chaos transform them from strangers into a found family.

The novel perfectly balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotional warmth. Beneath the banter lies a touching message about resilience, vulnerability, and learning to trust again. While there’s romance, the real love story is the one between friends who help each other rebuild.

Heartfelt, funny, and full of charm, The Monday Night Heartbreak Club is the literary equivalent of a comforting hug and a good laugh.

My Rating