May 17, 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Nurse’s Night Before Valentine’s By Louisa Heaton

There’s no cure for Cupid!

For locum nurse Cass, a temporary contract on a Scottish island is a breath of fresh air. After suffering a terrible loss, she’s lived on the go, never allowing anyone close. Except the warm welcome from her new boss, single dad GP Lachie, has her wondering if she can finally put down roots… Sharing patients leads to sharing heartaches late into the night, when their spark threatens to turn into a blaze! As Valentine’s approaches, will Cass find a home where her heart is?

About The Author

My Review

Louisa Heaton is a tender, emotionally rich romance that packs a surprising amount of heart into a short, satisfying read.

Set on the remote Isle of Gulray, the story follows Cass, a traumatised locum nurse who arrives intending to simply complete a temporary contract and keep her walls firmly in place. Instead, she finds herself drawn into the rhythm of island life—and into the orbit of Lachie, the island’s young doctor, widower, and devoted father to his son Ronan, while also caring for his mother as she battles dementia. Their connection unfolds gently, shaped by shared compassion, unspoken grief, and the quiet understanding of two people carrying heavy emotional burdens.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its sense of place. The descriptions of island life—the food, weather, local language, and close-knit community—are vivid and immersive, making Gulray feel wonderfully real. The medical details add authenticity and momentum, grounding the romance in everyday challenges and care.

Though it’s a quick afternoon read, this story lingers, offering warmth, healing, and the comforting fantasy of finding love and belonging in a remote Scottish community.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 17 May 2026

The Seaside Book Club By Helen Rolfe

Welcome to a very special book club – where stories are shared, secrets kept, and friendships found.

Howard, newly retired to Dorset, joins because he can’t sleep; the weekly sessions give him an opportunity to connect. Margot logs in only after her husband’s fallen asleep – her life has grown small, and the club is the one place she can still be herself. And on the other side of the world, Faye joins to escape her sister’s latest crisis and feel, for an hour, that she belongs somewhere.

For each of them, the book club is more than a hobby – it’s a lifeline.

So when Howard suddenly disappears from the meetings, everything changes. Determined to be there for their friend, Faye and Margot must step out of their own troubled lives and travel to Dorset – where the truth behind Howard’s silence may turn out to be the most unexpected story of all…

Review Card & Book Review – Chasing The Ring By Lauren Rowe

Iris Benedetto’s wedding day just went viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.

After a heated blowout with her lying, cheating fiancé at the altar, Iris storms off on a solo honeymoon—loudly announcing that she’s finally going to find out what good sex is all about. Rebranding from small-town preschool teacher to #Horny Runaway Bride was not the plan, but the insanely hot stranger who ends up double-booked in her bungalow on the island of Kauai is an opportunity even devastated Iris can’t ignore.

It’s not often NFL quarterback Roman Maguire meets someone who doesn’t recognize him. Even rarer to have that someone barge in while he’s taking a shower and quickly make him an irresistible offer. Roman is in Hawaii to secure the deal that could finally land him a Super Bowl ring—and closer proximity to his son. A sexy fling in paradise is a perfect way to spend a week with a surprise roommate . . .

Except . . . suddenly a week doesn’t seem nearly enough. And once the truth about Roman’s identity, Iris’s internet infamy, and all kinds of loyalty-testing secrets are revealed, will they both be willing to step into the real-life spotlight together?

About The Author

My Review

This is a funny, heartwarming sports romance that delivers exactly what her readers love—big laughs, genuine emotion, and characters who feel like family by the final page.

Roman, an NFL quarterback, meets Iris, a newly jilted bride, while she’s bravely taking her honeymoon alone. What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something special, especially because Iris has no idea who Roman is. That anonymity is a gift for him, and their first week together is a joy to read as they connect simply as two people finding comfort at the right moment. Rowe captures those early days beautifully—light, tender, and full of chemistry.

I especially appreciated that Roman and Iris part ways for a time. That space allows both characters to grow individually, making their eventual reunion feel earned and emotionally satisfying. Roman’s family, as always with Lauren Rowe, is a standout. His brothers are endlessly entertaining, and his relationship with his son adds a layer of warmth that will melt your heart.

Laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and deeply charming, Chasing the Ring is a sports romance that hits all the right notes—and will leave you wishing for more books in this world.

My Rating