April 2026 – Page 3 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – The Lighthouse At The Cove By Amy Clipston

Sometimes the road home isn’t on a map.

After a painful breakup and a stalled career, journalist Kaiah Ross sets out on a reporting road trip down the East Coast, hoping the miles will help her find her way again. But when car trouble strands her in the postcard-perfect town of Coral Cove, she’s forced to stop running–and unexpectedly finds herself drawn into a life that feels like something out of a dream.

Reid Turner has spent years putting others first–his career as a firefighter, his spirited young daughter, Piper, and the small town he’s always called home. The last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. But from the moment Kaiah arrives, her kindness, warmth, and quiet strength stir something in him he thought was long buried.

When Kaiah agrees to help promote the town’s annual “Light the Dark” Festival–a celebration meant to save Coral Cove’s historic lighthouse–what begins as a simple arrangement quickly turns into something more. Late nights of planning under string lights, shared laughter over coffee, and quiet, heartfelt moments with Piper begin to weave Kaiah into the fabric of Reid’s life . . . and into his heart.

But just as love begins to blossom, Kaiah is faced with an offer that could relaunch her career and take her far from Coral Cove. Now, she’s forced to choose between the life she thought she wanted and the unexpected love that’s given her a glimpse of home.

About The Authorj

My Review

This is a warm, feel-good romance that captures all the charm of a Hallmark movie while still offering genuine emotional depth. The story follows Kaiah, who lands unexpectedly in Coral Cove when her car breaks down. What begins as an inconvenient detour quickly becomes something more meaningful as the town embraces her and firefighter Reid—along with his sweet daughter, Piper—offers her a temporary place to stay.

As delays keep her in town, Kaiah throws herself into helping with the “Light the Dark” Festival, using her journalism and marketing background to boost the community’s efforts to save the school and the lighthouse. Through these moments, she grows closer to Reid, his family, and the town she never expected to love. But when career opportunities arise that could take her far from Coral Cove, Kaiah faces a heartfelt choice: pursue the dream she’s always wanted or embrace the unexpected life—and love—she’s found.

With tender themes of healing, hope, and new beginnings, this sweet, cozy romance delivers charm, heart, and a setting that feels wonderfully alive.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Review Card & Book Review – Christmas Cottage Getaway By Tara Taylor Quinn

Christmas, canines and courtship…

Dale Wilson’s life hasn’t been “good” since his beloved wife died—at least until Millie Monroe moves to Ocean Breeze. Dale and his dog Juice can’t help but be drawn to the pediatric nurse. A widow herself, Millie understands not wanting romance. Finding unexpected common ground has given them both a friendship they’ve craved. Plus, their respective pups have become friends, too! But Dale has a secret—he’s bestselling author WG Gunder. Not something he readily wants to admit to the woman in his heart…and his bed. Perhaps the Christmas spirit can teach him that sometimes happily-ever-after is disguised as a new beginning…

About The Author

My Review

This is a gentle, emotionally grounded holiday romance that captures the tender beauty of second chances. Tara Taylor Quinn brings together two wounded souls—Dale Wilson, a widower struggling to rebuild his life, and Millie Monroe, a pediatric nurse carrying her own grief—in a story that feels both heartfelt and quietly hopeful. Their connection begins with shared understanding and the comfort of companionship, helped along by their loyal dogs who mirror their owners’ budding bond.

Quinn handles grief with sensitivity, allowing Dale and Millie to move toward one another at an authentic, vulnerable pace. Dale’s secret identity as bestselling author WG Gunder adds an intriguing layer, creating tension between honesty, fear, and emotional intimacy. His reluctance to reveal the truth deepens the stakes as their friendship slips into something warmer and deeply needed.

The included quote perfectly reflects the early spark between them—Millie’s instinctive wave, her surprise at her own reaction, and her hesitance to pass by again. It’s a small moment that captures the story’s essence: quiet gestures that lead to unexpected healing.

A touching, uplifting holiday read about love finding its way back.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

RevIew Card & Book Review – I Do, For Now By Christy McKellen

Welcome to the fake wedding of Xavier and Solitaire 🤫

Saving her family’s beloved café is Solitaire Saunders’ top priority. Even if it means walking down the aisle with a man she barely knows! Billionaire Xavier McQueen needs a wife to unlock his inheritance, and Solitaire, with her charming chaos, is surprisingly perfect for the job. It’s purely a business transaction with no emotions attached. What could go wrong?

Because all too quickly, the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur. Catching feelings was never part of the contract, but when Solitaire’s sunny disposition begins to melt Xavier’s frosty exterior, revealing a surprisingly soft side beneath the boardroom bravado, both are powerless to resist each other. And as the sparks continue to fly in their temporary marriage, will they continue to fake it until they make it, or finally admit they want more than they signed up for?

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming, witty romantic comedy that perfectly blends humor, heart, and slow-burn romance. Xavier McQueen, a wealthy property owner, faces a ticking deadline: he must marry within three months to inherit his family’s historic Hampsted Mansion. Enter Solitaire “Soli” Saunders, a sweet, determined woman trying to save her family bakery from rising rents. When she impulsively agrees to marry Xavier in a “marriage of convenience” arrangement, the stage is set for hilarity, awkward encounters, and undeniable chemistry.

Living under the same roof but in separate rooms, Soli’s persistence and warmth slowly chip away at Xavier’s guarded heart. Xavier, burned by a previous relationship, wants nothing more than to fulfill the terms of his late aunt’s will—but he can’t ignore the growing attraction between them. Their banter is playful, their moments of connection are heartfelt, and the push-and-pull tension keeps the story engaging from start to finish.

Christy McKellen skillfully balances humor, romance, and emotional depth in this delightful rom-com. I Do, For Now is a feel-good, page-turning story about love, trust, and the unexpected ways hearts can change.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobob

Review Card & Book Review – Christmas Security By Lisa Childs

They’re dodging a killer

And finding each other

Biophysicist Dr. Priscilla Pell fears for her life—and the life of her unborn child. Living in the mansion where she’s still unwelcome among her late husband’s family, she doesn’t know whether the threats are coming from inside or outside. That’s why she hires professional security. She’s grateful for Blade Sparks’s around-the-clock protection, but his constant presence makes it impossible to ignore the effect he has on her. After a Christmas-shopping excursion that should be a distraction takes a lethal turn, Priscilla and Blade can no longer pretend that their relationship is purely professional…

About The Author

My Review

This is a gripping romantic suspense that perfectly blends danger, intrigue, and sizzling romance. Blade Sparks, a man with a troubled past—having served time for unintentionally killing an abuser—now works for the Payne Protection Agency. His latest assignment is protecting Dr. Priscilla Pell, a widow carrying on her late husband’s groundbreaking medical research while also expecting his heir through IVF. Blade expects an elderly client but is stunned when the young, determined Priscilla surprises him while he’s scouting the estate.

Priscilla is smart, driven, and resilient, facing threats to her life and work with courage and determination. Blade, protective and strong yet vulnerable beneath the surface, finds himself drawn to her instantly. As danger closes in with lethal attempts on her life, the tension between them intensifies, blending high-stakes suspense with a slow-burning, steamy romance.

Lisa Childs crafts a story full of emotional depth, family drama, and pulse-pounding intrigue. The characters are engaging, relatable, and instantly compelling, making it easy to become fully invested in their journey. Christmas Security is a thrilling, heartfelt, and page-turning holiday read that perfectly balances romance and suspense.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 11 April 2026

Summer Ever After By Mandy Baggot

Forty-year-old Faye Lawson is falling back in love with life at last. Finally divorced from her cheating husband, she has turned her back on the UK and has been living the Greek dream in Corfu managing a beautiful traditional boutique hotel.

For Kostas Petsas, twenty-something ex-professional basketball player, life as he has always known it is over. Having to take early-retirement because of injury, he’s at a loss as to what to do next. But when a piece of land in Corfu comes on the market, it seems this might be the perfect fit. There’s just a couple of things in the way… an area of natural beauty and… a little hotel on the beach.

Kostas has never met any woman like Faye before – she doesn’t behave around him how women usually do, and, when conflict starts to surface, it seems they can’t see eye-to-eye on anything. Or perhaps, when things get body-to-body, both of them begin to wonder if it can turn into heart-to-heart.

Review Card & Book Review- Call Me Anytime By Max Monroe

Down and almost out in Nashville, Hannah May takes a job at what she thinks is a telemarketing company. To her shock, it’s a phone sex hotline. Unfortunately, the only role-playing Hannah can do with conviction is as a cash-strapped twenty-five-year-old virgin caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s. If only her callers were into that fantasy. Instead, one of them is looking for a killer.

Detective Dominic Dunn is investigating the murder of another hotline operator when Hannah’s endearing awkwardness, quirky charm, and fierce devotion to her mother crack his professional facade. Despite the circumstances, their connection is instant and electric. For the first time in years, Hannah finds herself living instead of just surviving—even if that means playing amateur sleuth between awkward attempts at phone seduction.

But as their relationship deepens and the investigation intensifies, Dominic’s protective instincts go into overdrive. With every call Hannah takes, she gets closer to both love and danger.

Because somewhere in Nashville, on the other end of her line, a killer is waiting.

About The Author

My Review

This is a wonderfully entertaining rom-com that delivers everything I love—humor, heart, and just enough suspense to keep me guessing. Hannah May is down on her luck, trying to keep up with bills while caring for her mother, who’s living with Alzheimer’s. When she accidentally lands a job at a phone-sex hotline, her life takes a chaotic—and hilariously unexpected—turn. She’s awkward, sweet, and completely out of her element, which only makes her even more endearing.

Then there’s Detective Dominic Dunn, who’s investigating a murder tied to the hotline. Their connection sparks instantly, even under the strangest circumstances, and their chemistry builds beautifully throughout the story. Their meet-cute is absolutely bonkers—equal parts chaotic, awkward, and charming—and I found myself grinning through entire chapters.

The blend of comedy, mystery, romance, and genuine emotion works incredibly well. One moment the story has you laughing out loud, and the next it surprises you with tender, heartfelt moments—especially when exploring Hannah’s devotion to her mom. That emotional depth adds a meaningful layer to all the flirtation and chaos, making the entire journey feel warm, engaging, and completely irresistible.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Review- Big Sky Safe House By Juno Rushdan

Can he stop the killer

who has found her again?

The only woman to escape the notorious Yuletide slayer, Nora Santana wants to stop running and put down roots in this tight-knit Montana town. But a chilling holiday message from her Secret Santa tells Nora her carefully constructed cover has been blown. Out of options, she must rely on Ironside Protection investigator Bo Lennox to keep her alive. With the fatalities rising, Bo and Nora confront their taboo attraction as they unearth long-buried secrets…and a killer who’s closer than they could ever imagine…

About The Author

My Review

This is a tense, emotionally charged romantic suspense novel that blends danger, trauma, and fierce connection into a gripping read. Nora, having survived multiple brutal attacks that claimed the lives of her closest friends, has lived years in the shadows—haunted, isolated, and determined to stay hidden. When a relentless killer resurfaces with chilling precision, she’s forced back into the open and into the care of Bo, a steadfast protection agent committed to keeping her alive.

Bo’s dedication to the job clashes with the immediate, powerful pull he feels toward Nora. Their chemistry is present from the first page—more instant spark than slow burn—as Nora finds herself drawn to Bo’s strength, gentleness, and understanding. Despite his worries about compromising the mission, she pursues the connection, and their shared scars create an unexpectedly deep emotional bond.

Rushdan crafts a villain who is both vicious and cleverly concealed, keeping the suspense sharp and the mystery engaging. With a satisfying resolution and a hopeful ending that hints at lasting happiness, Big Sky Safe House delivers a thrilling blend of high-stakes action and heartfelt romance perfect for fans of protective heroes and resilient heroines.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 10 April 2026

Daydreaming At The Boathouse Cafe By Alison Sherlock

Can following your dreams lead to happy-ever-after?

After leaving an unhappy relationship, Hannah Jackson has no confidence in herself or love. The only thing she secretly dreams of is her own bakery. But when her brother Ben, the owner of their family run hotel Maple Tree Lodge, asks her to open a cafe in the renovated boathouse on Dragonfly Lake, Hannah is consumed with self-doubt.

Due to an injury, Ben’s best friend and champion triathlete Alex Grant finds himself suddenly at a crossroads in his life and accepts Ben’s offer to recuperate at Maple Tree Lodge. Nursing a secret, longtime crush for Hannah, Alex is hoping that he can find a new future for himself and that it might somehow include Hannah.

Can Hannah overcome her lack of confidence and make the boathouse cafe a success? And can Alex find himself a new path and finally admit to Hannah how he really feels?

Over a magical summer by the lake, and with the help of a stray puppy, Hannah and Alex discover if all of their dreams really can come true.

Review Card & Book Review – The Christmas Playbook By Lisa Carter

When the goal is love
it’s time to break the rules…

When her football coach father has a sudden heart attack, Maddie Lovett finds help from an unlikely source: her high school crush, Tanner Price. Back in town to care for his mother, former star athlete Tanner agrees to step in temporarily. As he leads the team to the state championships, Maddie’s support helps him see her as more than just the coach’s daughter. But when a family crisis occurs, Tanner knows his time in Truelove is limited. With his Christmas departure quickly approaching, can Maddie convince him to stay…for more than just football?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartfelt and faith-filled holiday story that explores family bonds, second chances, and the quiet courage needed to care for those who are struggling. When Tanner Price returns home for Christmas after months working on the oil rigs, he is confronted with painful family challenges and the heavy responsibility of doing what’s right for a loved one facing a debilitating condition. What could have been an overwhelming season becomes bearable through the support of his tight-knit small-town community.

At the center of that support is Maddie Lovett—a warm, generous woman whose servant-hearted nature brings light into Tanner’s darkest moments. She’s the kind of character readers instantly root for, offering compassion without judgment and reminding Tanner that hope still exists even when circumstances feel bleak.

Though football is woven through the narrative, the story’s heart lies in healing—broken families, hurting individuals, and relationships scarred by time. Lisa Carter delivers a touching reminder that faith, love, and community can restore what feels lost. Tender, uplifting, and inspiring, The Christmas Playbook is a beautiful holiday read about renewal, grace, and finding God’s timing in every season.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 9 April 2026

Who Can You Trust By Susan Lewis

A terrible crime. A shocking confession. Do you believe her?

Twenty years ago, Nicole’s twins disappeared without a trace.

No bodies. No witnesses.

Despite her pleas of innocence, Nicole was convicted.

Now she’s out. And she’s finally confessed.

But for true crime podcast host Cristy Ward, the story doesn’t add up.

Having worked on the case as a young reporter, Cristy can’t help but wonder whether Nicole is the villain everyone believes her to be.

Why did Nicole confess after so many years … and is the truth still out there, waiting…?

Losing The Plot By Mia Page

Can she write her own love story?📚❤️

Jess is an Instafamous book blogger whose career is going from strength to strength, but she secretly harbours dreams of becoming a full-time novelist

Once a literary darling , former bestselling author Alex hasn’t written a hit in years. With his final contracted book deadline looming and his creativity at an all-time low, he’s on the brink of becoming yesterday’s news.

Both are stubborn and used to working alone, in exactly their own way – so, when they are coerced into writing together to try and fulfil both their bookish dreams, what could possibly go wrong?

Where It All Began By Debbie Howells

‘I want to tell you a story, my beautiful child, of every magical thing I wish for you, my beautiful child. This is where it all begins…’

It all begins when Edie’s daughter Lexie was born. A day when hope gleams like sunlight on mirror-flat water. Lexie’s arrival makes Edie feel like her life is complete, and her love for her newborn daughter is immediate, like a force of nature.

Even though Edie’s marriage to Ryan isn’t perfect, Edie knows she can hold their family together, for Lexie and her brother.

However, life – in all its beautiful, messy glory – doesn’t always follow the script. And by the time Lexie is a teenager, everything’s changed, and she’s moving as far away from her family as she possibly can.

But now Edie needs her back home, where it all began. Because – as everything in Edie’s life changes – she realises her daughter Lexie might be the only person who can save her…