When Jenna’s husband fails to return from work one evening, she’s painfully aware what it might mean. Yet another woman.
This time, though, Jenna won’t sit and wait for Joel to come back to her. It’s the summer holidays and she wants to make sure her seven-year-old twins have fun. So, they head for the beautiful coastal village of Kelsea Sands, where her mum’s thrilled to have them stay.
At the village’s North Star inn, Sam is struggling with his reclusive father, pub landlord Seb, and is short-staffed for the summer. Jenna steps in; working evenings at the inn is the distraction she needs right now.
As the summer passes, Jenna opens up to Sam about her marriage, while he shares his own worries. With the twins gently working their magic on the grieving Seb, Jenna and Sam grow ever closer. But Joel hasn’t finished with her yet…
She pouts, looking upset, and I want nothing more than to kiss her better and say ‘All right then, yes. Perhaps he can come back, perhaps he will, perhaps he has!’ But I can’t. I know I can’t lie to her about this…
The day we lost Josh, a part of me broke. He was only three-and-a-half years old. His twin, Ruby, suddenly an only child.
We thought we were doing as well as expected. But when Ruby comes to me and says she saw Josh – alive – I assume she’s struggling more than we realised. It’s her way of holding on. Of refusing to let go.
But then I see him too.
A boy with Josh’s same pale blue eyes, the silvery-white hair that falls across his forehead in exactly the same way. It’s more than a similarity. This boy could be Josh’s twin.
How can that be possible?
I know I have to listen to my rational brain, that this must be my grief messing with my mind. But I can’t let go of the feeling that something is going on. Who is this boy? And does someone know more than they’re letting on?
This book is about grief, faith, and the fragile hope that follows unimaginable loss. In this book, the story unfolds through alternating first-person chapters from a mother and grandmother, creating an intimate portrait of a family struggling to heal.
Five-year-old Ruby, mourning her twin brother Josh, becomes convinced he is still alive after repeatedly seeing a boy who looks just like him. Her certainty unsettles the entire family, reopening wounds they are barely managing to survive. The emotional tension is handled with sensitivity, especially as Ruby begins to understand death more fully after the loss of a pet—an experience that gently guides her toward acceptance.
Ruby’s mother’s search for answers adds a thread of quiet suspense, leading to revelations that ripple through the family. Faith is woven thoughtfully into the narrative, offering comfort without preaching, particularly in conversations about prayer and belief.
The characters feel authentic and deeply human. Ultimately, this is a beautifully written novel about love, resilience, and the evolving meaning of family.
My Sanctuary 