April 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Cinderella’s Bargain With The Billionaire By Mariah Ankenman

SWIPE RIGHT FOR THE ONE?

Event planner Marissa can’t afford distractions—certainly not strangers she’s set up with against her will! Accidental date Rory is heart-poundingly handsome but extremely unamused by the mix-up. At least she’ll never see him again… Only it turns out he’s her fledgling company’s first client! Marissa just has to stand the buttoned-up billionaire long enough to plan a glamorous charity gala, then they’re done. Yet as she sees beneath his stern exterior, dislike melts into something more dangerous…and she’s soon wishing their contract could last forever!

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming, emotionally grounded romance that balances modern tropes with heartfelt depth. The story opens with an awkward—but memorable—meet-cute when Marissa discovers her teenage sister posed as her on a dating app, leading to a disastrous first impression with Rory. Things grow even more complicated when Rory turns out to be a key client for Marissa’s new event-planning business, forcing proximity despite mutual attraction and lingering tension.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its thoughtful representation of Marissa’s medical condition, POTS, which is handled with care and realism. Rory’s tragic backstory adds emotional weight, while the secondary characters—especially cousin Kell, sister Abby, and best friend Nora—bring warmth and humor. The dating app concept, which matches users based on hobbies and lifestyle, is particularly fun, allowing Marissa and Rory to bond over puzzles and games in a natural, endearing way.

The central conflict involving Marissa’s father’s gambling addiction is compelling, though it could have benefited from more on-page interaction. While the story leans on familiar romance clichés, the chemistry and heart ultimately make this an enjoyable and satisfying read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 22 April 2026

The Irish Cottage By The Sea By Clodagh Murphy

A fresh start by the Irish coast – and a second chance at love where she least expects it…

When single mum Lou moves from the chaos of Dublin to a forgotten seaside cottage in Dingle, she hopes for a calmer life for her son, Jack – a place where he can grow up surrounded by the warmth of a small community.

But village life isn’t without its challenges. The cottage needs work and Lou needs a job, but at least Jack quickly makes friends – including Bo, the spirited daughter of Aidan, the head chef of the restaurant where Lou eventually finds work. Aidan is serious, skilled, and a little distant, yet there’s something about him Lou is drawn to.

Lou is firm in her decision not to get involved with anyone, not after the heartache Jack’s father caused them both. But as Lou and Aidan grow closer, they may just discover what matters most: family, community, and the unexpected joys of opening your heart again.

Review Card & Book Review – Sicilian Devil’s Prisoner By Caitlin Crews

Is she his ruin…
or his redemption?

Jovi D’Amato doesn’t show mercy. He is ice-cold, ruthless and relentless. He is the deadly weapon of the Il Serpente crime syndicate, forged in the brutal aftermath of his family’s murder. Then he’s sent to kidnap Ruxandra Ardelean. In a single heartbeat she detonates his entire existence…

Salvation isn’t something Rux thought possible until Jovi takes her prisoner. The dangerous Sicilian should terrify her. Instead, he thrills her. She comes alive under his shamelessly sinful touch. Though for Jovi to make her his, he’ll have to burn his whole world down…

About The Author

My Review

This is a dark, emotionally charged romance that blends danger, fatalism, and unexpected tenderness. Jovi, a lethal enforcer molded by his ruthless uncle, is sent to kill Rux—a woman who has spent her life waiting to be traded or destroyed for power. What makes their first meeting unforgettable is Rux’s eerie calm; she greets her would-be killer with resignation rather than fear, sparking sharp banter and instant intrigue.

Crews excels at pairing two characters who mirror each other’s emotional imprisonment. Rux has long accepted her lack of agency, while Jovi has been weaponized by grief and manipulation. As their connection deepens, Jovi’s threats grow hollow, replaced by a fierce desire to make Rux choose life—and love. Their escape to Sicily provides a quieter, more intimate interlude, rich with longing and fragile hope, even as danger looms.

The romance unfolds with intensity and urgency, driven by the inevitability of Antonio’s pursuit. While steeped in dark tropes, the story ultimately shines in its exploration of choice, healing, and defiance. Fans of high-stakes, emotionally resonant romances will find this a compelling and satisfying read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 21 April 2026

The Next Big Thing By Erin Scoggins

She can’t cook. He won’t leave. And the hottest thing coming out of the kitchen might just be their chemistry.

When Cora Lockwood’s boyfriend betrays her by stealing her idea and tanking her career, her perfect life collapses, leaving her with a battered reputation and a one-way ticket home.

Returning to Sunrise, North Carolina, Cora plans to sell her grandmother’s café and move on. But The Salty Spoon isn’t empty—it has been taken over by Jack Harlow, the stubborn chef who’s staked his future on bringing her family’s recipes back to life. With a developer circling and long-hidden secrets bubbling up, they’ve got thirty days to fight over the café’s fate: sell it or save it. And neither plans to back down.

With the clock ticking, Cora and Jack become unlikely partners in chaos, tangled in late-night cooking lessons, small-town meddling, and one inconvenient attraction that has sparks flying both in and out of the kitchen.

The Great Italian Holiday Mix- Up By Sandy Barker

What do you do when your dream holiday for two turns into an unexpected romantic mix-up?😅

Nick and Delaney each think they’ve planned the perfect romantic getaway – a mystery holiday designed by a travel matchmaking service.

And what’s more idyllic than the sun-soaked Isle of Capri with its stunning scenery, air of romance and endless Aperol Spritzes?

But when the itineraries go astray, Nick walks into a hotel suite that’s already occupied – just not by his fiancée.

Two frantic phone calls later, Nick and Delaney discover the truth: their partners are together in Reykjavík and they’re stuck sharing a room in one of the most romantic places on earth.

As they scramble to fix the mix-up, fate steps in and they start to wonder if the wrong holiday might just be the right one after all.

Review Card & Book Review – Tainted Love By Laura Carter

Scarlett: I loved Gregory Ryans with all of me.

And it still wasn’t enough.

He was everything I wanted, but I should have known better. After all we’ve been through, he still didn’t trust me with the truth.

I walked away from him, but Gregory Ryans is not one to give up.

Now he’s offering me the deal of a lifetime: his heart. All his secrets. Him. Forever.

But at what cost?

Yes, there are things he’s kept from me. But there are also things – dangerous things – that even Gregory doesn’t know.

His enemies are still coming for us, and this time, we’ll have to fight together. To save what we’ve built. To show that love like ours can’t be destroyed.

I believe that.

But if he doesn’t, then it won’t only destroy us. It’ll destroy everything.

About The Author

My Review

Tainted Love, the gripping finale of Laura Carter’s Billionaires of London trilogy, delivers an emotionally charged and deeply satisfying conclusion to Scarlett and Gregory’s tumultuous story. Picking up weeks after the explosive ending of book two, the novel dives straight into the consequences of Gregory’s mistakes, peeling back the final layers of a man who has been equal parts infuriating and compelling. Carter masterfully reveals the trauma and vulnerability beneath his hardened exterior, offering readers a powerful and believable evolution without sacrificing the character consistency built over two previous books.

Scarlett, too, undergoes a rewarding transformation. No longer defined solely by her role in Gregory’s world, she reclaims her identity—with personal strength, professional pride, and a renewed sense of purpose. Her journey is empowering and beautifully rendered.

The plot is tightly woven, full of clever threads that build toward a cinematic, high-stakes climax. Carter’s pacing feels more controlled and emotionally resonant, allowing the central couple to finally breathe, connect, and grow.

With vivid imagery, impactful twists, and heartfelt closure, Tainted Love is a triumphant finale—rich, dramatic, and overflowing with hard-won joy. Fans will turn the last page both wrung out and deeply content.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Review Card & Book Review- The Wife’s Irish Secret By Susanne O’Leary

When Marian Fleury finds a love letter hidden in her husband Theo’s belongings, her heartbreak puts her on the first plane to Ireland. With her sister Claire’s wedding only a week away, she has the perfect excuse to escape to the Irish coast and decide where her future truly lies…

Marian is shocked by how quickly she adjusts to the beautiful sandy shores, shopping for dresses and collecting roses for the perfect wedding bouquet. As the ocean sparkles before her, the wind soft against her face, she manages to keep the pain Theo has caused her a secret and remembers that as a little girl she always wanted Ireland to be her home.

Yet just as Marian thinks her past is behind her, Theo arrives in town. He begs for her forgiveness, his handsome face and olive skin making her heart race like always, and suddenly she wonders if he might start afresh in the village with her.

But when she stumbles upon the woman her husband was sending letters to, in a beautiful cottage among the wildflowers, Marian learns that Theo has an even bigger secret. Can Marian find the strength to take the next steps in her own life, or is she about to lose everything?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartfelt, atmospheric romance that beautifully intertwines personal upheaval with the charm and spirit of rural Ireland. While the story is framed as a relationship-focused novel, it often feels just as much a love letter to Irish landscapes, traditions, and community. Marian Fleury is an instantly sympathetic protagonist—vulnerable, flawed, and deeply human. Returning to Ireland for her sister’s wedding, she is really fleeing a marriage that has left her feeling invisible and isolated. The discovery of a recent letter from her husband’s former flame only deepens her hurt and confusion.

As Marian unravels emotionally, she confides in the wrong person, a choice that threatens to make her situation even more precarious. When her husband Theo unexpectedly arrives in Ireland hoping to repair their strained relationship, Marian becomes overwhelmed by secrets, obligations, and the weight of her own fears. O’Leary skillfully builds tension as Marian’s carefully balanced life becomes increasingly unsustainable.

Rich in emotion and rooted in a vivid sense of place, The Wife’s Irish Secret is an engaging and compassionate read that keeps you invested in Marian’s journey toward clarity and self-worth.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 20 April 2026

Growing Old Disgracefully By Karen King

‘Aren’t you a bit old to live in a house-share?’

When Nancy’s husband disappears to ‘find himself’ on a worldwide tour, just before he’s due to retire, she’s devastated to find he’s left her penniless.

She has the house though… and so she does the only thing she can. She finds lodgers. Her sister Val thinks it’s a mad idea, but Nancy’s sure it’ll be fine, as long as she doesn’t have anyone young and chaotic, so she selects three lodgers of similar age to her.

But she soon realises that life model Jackie, fortune teller Phyllis, and ageing rocker Marvin might be a more crazy group than teenagers would be. What’s more… they’re determined to help Nancy find her own wild side!

RevIew Card & Book Review – The Whispers Of Hideaway House By Alexandra Barber

A captivating tale of love, loss and second chances, where the past and present intertwine to create magic that transcends time itself…

When midwife Jules arrives on the Isle of Wight, she’s nursing a broken heart after being betrayed by the man she thought she loved. But the enchanting 200-year-old Hideaway Cottage seems determined to heal her wounded spirit. As Jules untangles the mystery at the centre of the house’s tragic history, she begins to wonder if some places are simply meant to mend what’s been broken…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about heartbreak, fresh starts, and the healing power of friendship and community. It delivers a warm, uplifting second instalment in the Hideaway House series that feels like a comforting escape from start to finish.

The story follows Jules, a hardworking midwife in Manchester whose life unravels after her charming boyfriend Gavin vanishes, leaving emotional and financial devastation behind. Struggling to cope, she is rescued by her loyal best friend Carrie, who invites her to the peaceful Isle of Wight. There, Carrie and her partner Guy arrange for Jules to stay at Hideaway House, offering her the chance to rebuild her confidence and begin again.

What makes the novel so enjoyable is its sense of community. The villagers are kind, supportive, and quick to rally around one another when life becomes difficult, creating a story full of compassion and warmth. Although set in summer, the generosity and uplifting tone make it feel like the perfect holiday read.

Overall, this is a charming, feel-good novel about resilience, friendship, and new beginnings—one that leaves you eager to explore the rest of the series.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 19 April 2026

The Life Rules Of Hilda Pride By Claudia Carroll

One Irish village, one fixer-upper & one chance to open her heart…

Friends let you down, romances don’t last and the only person you can rely on is yourself. Hilda believes this, so why is she still feeling so lonely…

Then life throws Hilda a curveball – an unexpected inheritance, a trip to Ireland and a huge but crumbling stately home that might just one day be hers to keep. Still stuck in her ways, Hilda is determined to tackle Mayfield Manor alone, but renovating a mansion single-handed might be beyond even her.

What Hilda needs is friends, so for the first time in years, Hilda Pride dares to lower her defences and everything in her world shifts in an instant. Hilda could never imagine what happens next, but it will change her and a community forever.

Review Card & Book Review- Melting Point By Cici Williams

February 2026: the Italian Winter Olympics. The only thing on Sam Harrington’s mind is winning her first medal for snowboarding.

Enter Finn Bradley. They’ve had a ‘friends forever’ pact for, well, forever, so Sam pushes her growing feelings aside and tries to focus on training.

But when a major team sponsorship falls through, Sam needs to find funding, and fast. When they’re told that pretending to be a couple will give them a better chance at finding sponsors, Sam and Finn agree to fake a relationship. They spend all their time together already, surely pretending to be a couple won’t be a slippery slope…

There’s only one problem. Finn’s secretly been in love with her for years, and this Olympic season, he’s decided that as well as a medal, he wants to win Sam over.

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartfelt, adrenaline-charged friends-to-lovers romance set against the electrifying backdrop of the Winter Olympics. What makes this story shine is the emotional depth woven into the competition, capturing both the high-stakes pressure of elite sports and the fragile, long-buried feelings between Sam and Finn. Bound by a pact made years earlier—to stay just friends until they each win an Olympic medal—they’ve spent a lifetime balancing ambition with unspoken longing.

Sam’s struggle is especially compelling. Still carrying the emotional scars of her father’s abandonment and burdened by her family’s tragedy, she fights not only for a medal but for validation. Her pain, frustration, and moments of immaturity feel achingly real. On the other side is Finn—steady, devoted, and quietly in love. His loyalty grounds their relationship, and his gentle support contrasts beautifully with the chaos swirling around Sam.

When a series of friendly photos goes viral, the forced spotlight pushes them into a fake-dating scenario that blurs every line they’ve tried to uphold. Their slow-burn romance, intensified by Olympic tension and personal stakes, feels both tender and exhilarating.

A unique, emotional, and uplifting winter sports romance.

My Rating