May 23, 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Dirty Hit By Livy Hart

When a career-ending injury forces hockey superstar Sadie Rivers to hang up her skates, she never expects to be the NHL’s first female coach. The Portland Fury are the league’s worst team—and Sadie has one season to turn the franchise around. Critics of her “soft touch” coaching style make no secret of their skepticism, but Sadie has never bucked a challenge, on or off the ice.

Defenseman Leo McLaren is hockey royalty. Or he was, until a dirty hit last season left him with a shoulder injury and migraines that have destroyed his game. When he’s traded to the Fury, it feels like the end of his hockey dreams. That is, until the new head coach names him captain—and asks for his help getting to know the team, who resist her personal approach.

Secret coach-captain meet-ups lead to a tentative friendship that quickly turns into sizzling chemistry hot enough to melt a hockey rink. But with the season and both their careers on the line, Sadie and Leo will have to decide if love is a risk worth taking when the game they’re playing demands all they have to give.

About The Author

My Review

This is about second chances, resilience, and breaking barriers in a gritty hockey world. Dirty Hit opens from the coach’s perspective, which immediately feels fresh and engaging. Sadie, a former superstar player and the NHL’s first female head coach, is a compelling lead, and the story doesn’t shy away from the backlash, skepticism, and constant scrutiny she faces in a male-dominated league.

The Portland Fury begin as the worst team in the NHL, and the messy reality of that is portrayed brilliantly—low morale, fractured players, and resistance to change all feel raw and believable. Watching Sadie slowly try to turn the team around is deeply satisfying.

The romance between Sadie and team captain Leo is a highlight. Their connection builds naturally through forced proximity, trust, and secret coach-captain meetings, with undeniable chemistry. Both are grappling with career-altering setbacks, which adds emotional depth and real stakes to their relationship.

With its fresh perspective, strong character work, and gritty hockey setting, Dirty Hit is a standout sports romance—and I’m so glad I picked it up.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 23 May 2026

Every Time We Touch By Lucy Mitchell

Love is not about how the story ends. It’s about the magic we find on every page. . .

Bookseller Nelly Blake has a secret. When she touches someone, she sees exactly how their love story will end. The cheating, the ghosting, the awkward letdowns in coffee shops — it’s all laid bare in vivid, unwanted visions. She’s seen every kind of romantic disaster and has concluded the safest option is to stay single forever. No touching. No dating. No love.

But after a brutal rent hike and her beloved Aunt Polly’s cancer diagnosis, Nelly is forced to take on a flatmate to make ends meet. Enter Oliver James — bestselling romance author and recently heartbroken man hiding more than just his actual name.

Then Nelly accidentally touches him… and sees nothing. No ending. No heartbreak. No clue. And that terrifies her more than anything.

As Oliver begins to believe in love again, Nelly must decide whether to keep hiding behind endings — or risk everything for a story she can’t predict.

Review Card & Book Review – Stalked In The Mountains By Danica Winters

She’s sworn she’ll never return home…

Until she needs a hideout.

Actress Scarlett Leafletter’s former agent is stalking her. Concealing her identity, she and her assistant hide out at her estranged family’s resort ranch. The new guest annoys cowboy Miles Miller, despite his powerful attraction to her. Scarlett’s also drawn to Miles, but both are wary of trusting one another. As they navigate their conflicted feelings, Scarlett’s past catches up to her, endangering those around her. Then Scarlett’s assistant and Miles’s brother disappear. And Scarlett must reveal everything. Now, trusting each other is the only way to save those they love.

About The Author

My Review

This is a fast-paced romantic suspense that wastes no time pulling the reader into danger. Scarlett, a well-known actress, is desperate to escape a former agent who has crossed the line from persistent to terrifying. Seeking safety, she retreats to her estranged family’s remote mountain ranch—only to find that isolation brings its own risks.

Miles, the rugged host tasked with protecting guests at the ranch, initially sees Scarlett as a spoiled celebrity running from her problems. Their early clashes are sharp and engaging, making it especially satisfying to watch his opinion shift as her vulnerability and resilience come to light. The chemistry builds naturally amid rising tension, with Miles stepping up as a determined and capable protector.

Winters does an excellent job sustaining suspense. Scarlett’s constant paranoia about being found, combined with the emotional strain of returning to a place tied to family estrangement, adds depth beyond the immediate threat. The setting amplifies the danger, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where help feels far away.

With steady twists, escalating stakes, and a strong central pairing, this is a gripping, quick read. Fans of romantic suspense who enjoy protective heroes and relentless tension will find plenty to love here.

My Rating