July 23, 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- Who Can You Trust By Susan Lewis

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…?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about a woman named Nicole who has spent twenty years in prison for the alleged murder of her twin babies. In Who Can You Trust?, Susan Lewis revisits the case as Nicole finally admits guilt—seemingly so she can be released on licence—yet her confession raises more doubts than closure. At the time of the original investigation, the looming shadow of the London terrorist attacks shifted public focus, leaving troubling gaps in the case.

Cristy Ward, then a young reporter and new mother covering the tragedy, feels compelled to re-examine the story through the lens of her true-crime podcast. Determined to uncover what really happened, she digs into the past while balancing her personal life, including her long-distance relationship with David in Guernsey and preparations for a milestone birthday celebration.

As the investigation unfolds, secrets surface through the expected twists and turns until the truth finally emerges. A brief appearance from Andee Lawrence adds a welcome connection to Lewis’s wider world, leaving readers eager for the next instalment in this gripping, character-driven series.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 23 July 2026

Not That Kind Of Proposal By Victoria Levine

Gracie Holland can plan the perfect Happily Ever After-unless it’s her own. After a soul-flattening breakup, she has rebuilt her life planning weddings at Larkwood-an ivy-covered estate where she also lives. But when her beloved boss passes away, Gracie suddenly finds herself pitted against a love-allergic divorce lawyer who is determined to sell both her place of work, and her home.

Jude Larkwood cleans up romantic disasters for a living, so he has no intention of keeping Larkwood as a wedding venue, but there’s just one problem: his Nana may have left Jude the estate, but she’s left the guest cottage to the maddeningly romantic wedding planner, who has somehow turned his mind into her permanent residence.

So, when Gracie proposes that he help her plan her ex’s shotgun wedding to prove Larkwood is worth saving, he agrees, but if she fails to convince him by the big day, she’ll sell him her cottage. As bickering and cake tastings turn into late-night confessions, Gracie and Jude find themselves breaking every vow not to fall for each other…

The Greek Guesthouse By Michelle Vernal

Dropping my suitcase at my feet, I stare up at the Greek guesthouse with its faded blue shutters, clambering purple bougainvillea and wrought-iron balconies spilling pink and red geraniums. I haven’t felt truly at home anywhere since I lost my sister. But maybe Eleni’s is different. I have a feeling that anything is possible here…

Annie always has a plan, always knows where her life is headed. But this summer, heartbroken after her sister’s death, she just feels untethered and alone. An invitation to stay at her old friend Kassia’s family guesthouse on the island of Crete comes at the perfect time – an excuse to get on a plane and leave her crumbling life behind for a few weeks.

Before she even finishes unpacking, Annie is wrapped up in the noisy warmth of Kassia’s chaotic, loving family. She soon finds herself cooking with Kassia’s mother, playing with the children under the orange trees… and meeting Kassia’s handsome brother-in-law Alexandros over dinner. Romance is the last thing on her mind, but the night she spends with him, swimming by moonlight and gazing at the stars in the lavender-scented air, heals something in her that she didn’t know was broken.

This was only supposed to be a temporary stay, but the longer Annie spends on Crete, the more she feels that this magical place might hold the key to her future. And as this life-changing summer draws to a close, can she leave her old plans behind her and find the courage to let her life make a map all of its own?

Review Card & Book Review – The Summer I Found You By Jennifer O’Brien

When Dahlia Newberry escapes her terrible marriage and returns to Long Island’s North Fork to put her family’s beach house on the market, she discovers the property has fallen into disrepair, and she has no idea how she’ll get it from fixer to fabulous in a month’s time.

Things start to look up when she discovers her neighbor is Noah, a handsome reality TV star known for his Hamptons-set home renovation series. Noah turns out to be quite handy and pitches in to help Dahlia with the renovations and, as chemistry sparks between them, her self-discovery too.

Meanwhile, Dahlia discovers a letter from her Aunt Lil, whose dying wish was for Dahlia to find a key that unlocks a mystery spanning three generations. Soon Dahlia is unearthing mysterious clues buried in the garden that threaten to upend everything she believes about her world.

The truth is supposed to set her free, but excavated secrets have a way of shattering an already fragile life—unless Dahlia can find a way to bloom into the woman she was always meant to be.

About The Author

My Review

This Book is about a breezy, beach-set romance that follows Dahlia, a 38-year-old almost-divorced mother returning to her family’s crumbling seaside home to prepare it for sale. What begins as a practical task quickly turns into a summer of renovations, buried family secrets, and an unexpected romance with Noah, a younger reality-TV renovation star next door.

The novel leans heavily into Hallmark-style charm: warm, escapist, and unapologetically romantic. The chemistry between Dahlia and Noah is immediate and sweet, though the relationship develops so quickly that it may feel emotionally rushed, especially given Dahlia’s not-yet-finalized divorce. While the story touches on themes of rediscovering identity and building a life beyond marriage and motherhood, these elements sometimes take a backseat to the romance.

A standout element is the mystery surrounding Aunt Lil’s clues and the family secret they uncover. This subplot adds heart and intrigue, and it’s easy to wish for even more of Aunt Lil’s backstory.

Overall, this is a light, comforting read with strong “second chance at life” vibes—ideal for readers craving sunshine, renovation drama, and feel-good romance, even if it sacrifices deeper personal growth along the way.

My Rating