July 2026 – Page 3 – My Sanctuary

Happy Publication Day – 13 July 2026

Winter Lights In Pine Harbor By Tammy Robinson

A fresh start. A second chance. A love worth choosing.

Burned out after years as a Chicago ER nurse, Mae Sullivan escapes to Pine Harbor in search of peace, sea air and a new beginning. But even in a town this charming, starting over isn’t so simple.

Jonah Sawyer knows every tide and dock along the harbor – yet he’s drowning under his family’s expectations, with a future mapped out that he never chose.

When a snowy-night misunderstanding on the pier throws Mae and Jonah together, sparks fly despite the biting cold and swirling flakes. But Mae is still healing, and Jonah must decide whether to keep living the life planned for him, or risk everything for one he chooses himself.

Under starlit winter skies, will they find the courage to begin again?

Returning To Romance By Jennifer Shirk

Saving her family’s beloved seaside resort was never going to be easy—but falling for the man who could ruin everything wasn’t part of the plan.

Kalinda Wingate is pouring her heart into restoring the Sunshine Sisters Resort, determined to protect the legacy her parents left behind. With renovations stretching her budget, guests dwindling, and the future hanging by a thread, one thing could change everything: a glowing review from the elusive travel critic known only as The Secret Sightseer.

When rumors spread that the mysterious reviewer may be headed to town, Kalinda is determined to make every moment perfect. What she doesn’t know is that the critic is already closer than she thinks.

Clarke Cantor only planned to stay long enough for his sister’s wedding. Instead, he finds himself face-to-face with Kalinda—his first love, the woman he never forgot, and the one person who can never discover the secret he’s keeping. As wedding festivities, quirky mishaps, and the charm of their coastal hometown pull them back together, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.

But with old wounds still lingering and a life-changing secret standing between them, Kalinda and Clarke must decide whether love deserves a second chance—or if some mistakes are too painful to forgive.

Review Card & Book Review- A Scottish Summer Escape By Ellie Henderson

After losing the career she built her life around, Flora Fraser retreats to her grandmother’s lakeside cottage in Rowan Bay for the summer.

Rowan Bay offers peace, kindness . . . and Brodie Robertson.

Brodie is infuriatingly self-assured, impossibly charming, and far too rooted in village life to fit into Flora’s temporary plans. Their first encounters spark with friction — and he always seems to be around when things go wrong.

For Flora, it can’t get worse — until she and Brodie find themselves working together. What begins as a battle of wills slowly deepens into attraction, one that becomes harder to resist with every day.

As summer unfolds, mornings spent swimming in the loch, evenings filled with laughter and long walks under starry skies, begin to heal parts of Flora she thought she’d lost. Rowan Bay feels less like a refuge — and more like home.

But Flora has always believed her stay to be temporary. And Brodie belongs here.

When the time comes for Flora to leave, both must decide whether this was simply a fleeting escape — or the beginning of something that could last beyond one perfect summer.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Flora Fraser, a woman whose identity has always been tied to her career, suddenly facing a painful loss that leaves her unsure of who she is without it. Seeking space to regroup, she retreats to her grandmother Iris’s cottage in the peaceful village of Rowan Bay, hoping the summer will give her time to recover and quietly rethink her future.

Life in Rowan Bay, however, proves far from the quiet hiding place Flora imagined. The scenic loch, the close-knit community, and the gentle rhythm of village life slowly begin to soften her outlook. Things become even more complicated when she meets Brodie Robertson, a confident local landscaper whose grounded nature clashes with Flora’s restless ambition. Their early encounters are full of friction and teasing banter, but as circumstances bring them together more often, that tension gradually shifts into something warmer.

Alongside the slow-burn romance, the story explores family history through Iris’s touching subplot and adds humor through two mischievous parrots, Sidney and Scrumpy. Rich in atmosphere and heart, the novel offers a comforting tale about healing, community, and discovering that sometimes the place you run to for escape might just become home.

Enemies-to-Lovers

Small-Town Romance

Forced Proximity

Finding Yourself After Loss

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 12 July 2026

The Sandycove Knitting Circle By Sian O’Gorman

Taking flight to Ireland and whole new world…

After losing her best friend Caitlin, Boston business owner Kerry-Anne Daly needs a change—fast. Discovering her boyfriend’s betrayal seals the deal. On impulse, she heads to Ireland and the seaside village of Sandycove, hoping for a quiet escape.

Instead, she finds something far better.

Drawn into village life, Kerry-Anne discovers thejoys of sailing with lively Sylvia and her charming brother Henry, braving the Forty Foot’s icy waters, and embracing the kind of laughter she thought she’d lost.

When a formidable group of local women ask for help turning their knitting circle into a business, Kerry-Anne dives in, uncovering both opportunity and long-buried secrets beneath Sandycove’s welcoming surface.

As friendships deepen and her confidence returns, Kerry-Anne begins to see a future she hadn’t imagined – one shaped by courage, community, and fresh possibilities.

Can she finally let go of the past and step into a new life? And why does Sandycove feel so much like home?

Review Card & Book Review- The Best Thing That Ever Happened By Sarah Bennett

One flat. One friendship. One chance to change everything…🏠☕💗

Kat Bailey’s life is going nowhere. Working at her father’s coffee shop in the picture-perfect Cornish holiday hotspot, Halfmoon Quay, makes her dream of becoming an author feel more fantasy than reality – and playing third wheel to her flatmate’s new relationship isn’t helping. So, when her childhood friend Harry Penrose offers her his spare room, it feels like an opportunity not to be missed.

Harry has his own dreams and if he could just dare to be honest, when he pictures his future, Kat is at the heart of it. But now they’re living under the same roof, Harry knows the risk of declaring his feelings. And when his plans clash with Kat’s family ties, the time has come for her to choose between the life she’s always known — and the future she’s only just begun to imagine.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Harry Penrose and Kat, two longtime friends in the charming Cornish community of Halfmoon Quay who slowly discover that their connection might be something more. Harry is determined to step out from the comfort of the family umbrella and start a business of his own, even though organisation and finances have never been his strengths. Thankfully, the ever-supportive Penrose family quickly rallies around him, proving once again how powerful a close-knit community can be.

Kat, best friend to Issy and a familiar face from earlier books in the series, has always placed her parents’ struggling coffee shop ahead of her own dreams. Secretly longing to become an author, she has spent years sacrificing her ambitions for a family that often takes her dedication for granted. Watching Kat finally begin to reclaim her confidence and pursue her passions is one of the most rewarding aspects of the story.

Harry’s quiet affection for Kat adds warmth and tenderness to the narrative, and his encouragement helps her believe in herself. With its heartfelt romance, family loyalty, and familiar characters returning, the novel beautifully captures the comforting charm and sense of belonging that defines the Halfmoon Quay series.

Friends to Lovers

Small-Town Romance

Slow Burn Romance

Family & Community Support

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Review Card & Book Review – Blackmail To White Veil By Clare Connelly

Forced to wed…

Enticed into bed!

Despite their painful past, Annie Langley’s last resort is to beg Theo Leonidas to save the family business. She should have known the self-made billionaire would seize his chance for revenge against her father, who’s always despised him. Theo’s outrageous counteroffer: he’ll help…on the condition that Annie marries him!

Annie hates how much her body still craves Theo—but he refuses to give in to tantalizing fantasy unless she admits she wants him! In this battle of honeymoon seduction, Annie won’t surrender without a fight…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Annie and Theo, former lovers whose unresolved feelings resurface in the most unexpected way. Years earlier, Annie ended their relationship after her mother suffered a heart attack, choosing family obligations over love. Theo was left hurt and resentful, convinced that Annie and her powerful father had manipulated the situation and cost him their future together.

When Annie later turns to Theo for help, he sees an opportunity for revenge. His solution is shocking: he demands that Annie marry him. What begins as a calculated act of retaliation soon becomes far more complicated as old emotions rise to the surface. Beneath the tension and bitterness, the connection between them never truly disappeared.

The story thrives on the classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic, combined with the emotional weight of a second-chance romance. Theo’s anger and Annie’s lingering guilt create a strong push-and-pull that keeps the relationship engaging. Despite their conflicts, their chemistry and history make them feel believable as a couple trying to rebuild trust.

Though relatively short, the novel delivers an entertaining and satisfying romantic escape, filled with tension, emotional growth, and the possibility of forgiveness and renewed love.

Second Chance Romance

Enemies to Lovers

Marriage of Convenience

Forced Proximity

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- Million-Dollar Baby Doc By Colette Cooper

Doctors…with benefits!

Pediatric consultant Will’s medical tech company made him a millionaire but destroyed his marriage. A fresh start at York Hospital is just what the doctor ordered—a refuge where nobody knows about his wealth or his heartbreak. And his no-strings fling with fellow consultant Maddie is completely heart safe. It’s all about their mutual fiery attraction! Only as their connection deepens, Will has a dilemma—keep his secret and spare himself more hurt or reveal his million-dollar deception and take a chance on forever with the woman he loves…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about two paediatricians at Royal York Hospital whose very different pasts shape the way they approach love and trust. Maddie McArthur, raised in care and foster homes, has spent her life hiding her background and guarding her heart from wealthy, privileged men. Despite the odds, supportive mentors helped her pursue medicine and become a skilled consultant paediatrician.

Will Lawrence, by contrast, grew up surrounded by wealth and a large, affectionate family. However, a painful marriage to a woman who valued his fortune more than him left him wary of relationships. Seeking a fresh start where his wealth is unknown, Will relocates to York and focuses on his work.

When Maddie and Will meet, their chemistry is immediate but complicated by their opposing life experiences and emotional scars. Maddie struggles to trust someone from Will’s privileged world, while Will hopes to prove he wants to be valued for who he is rather than his money.

Set in a hospital environment, the novel blends medical drama with emotional depth, exploring class differences, personal insecurity, and the healing power of love. It offers a heartfelt romance about overcoming past wounds to build a future based on honesty and mutual respect.

Grumpy/sunshine romance

Class gap love story

Workplace romance

Trauma-healing romance

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Harlequin

Review Card & Book Review- Family Ties For The Village Midwife By Tilly Tennant

Zoe Padbury is a big believer in second chances. She’s been so happy since she started over in the village of Thimblebury. Especially now she’s moved into Hilltop Farm with her boyfriend Alex and can be on hand to help his daughter when her baby arrives.

All that changes when Zoe’s father arrives, arm in arm with his newly pregnant fiancée Chantal. Chantal is bowled over by Thimblebury’s picture-perfect charm, and before Zoe’s had a chance to draw breath, they’ve made plans to get married in the old stone church, make Zoe their future baby’s midwife and move into the cottage next door.

Worried about her mum’s broken heart and how Alex feels about having her family so close by, at first Zoe doesn’t notice that Chantal’s brother has also moved in and is determined to make trouble, ruining the lives of the people who have made her feel so welcome. With the villagers up in arms about his behaviour Zoe is torn in two. Can she protect her new life and love without losing her family?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Zoe Padbury, a dedicated midwife who has built a peaceful life in the charming village of Thimblebury. The quiet rhythms of village life provide the perfect backdrop for Zoe as she focuses on her work, her growing family, and the community she loves. However, the calm she cherishes is soon disrupted when her father arrives with his new fiancée, Chantal who is expecting a baby.

Zoe finds herself struggling to adjust to these unexpected developments. Used to having a clear sense of order in her life, the sudden expansion of her family and the emotional adjustments it requires leave her feeling unsettled. Matters become even more complicated when Chantal’s brother secretly moves into the village, bringing with him new tensions and unexpected challenges.

As Zoe navigates these shifting family dynamics, she must balance her responsibilities as a midwife with her role as a daughter, partner, and mother. Through moments of warmth, uncertainty, and resilience, she learns that change though often daunting can also strengthen the bonds between those who care for one another.

Tilly Tennant delivers a heartfelt and engaging story filled with community spirit, family complexities, and the comforting charm of village life.

Unexpected Pregnancy

Small-Town Village Life

Complicated Family Dynamics

Found Family & Community Support

My Rating

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Review- Little Miss Petty By Sally Kilpatrick

When Stella Stark discovers that her boyfriend is cheating, she also discovers that thirty-nine isn’t too old for petty revenge. Can we say…glitter bomb? She’s lost both her job and her home—why not broaden her professional horizons as Little Miss Petty, helping wronged women achieve karmic justice? Frankly, the demand is too great to ignore.

New friends rally around her: Havisham, a bar owner with a soft spot under her gruff exterior, and Salcedo, a college student with marketing savvy. There’s just one hiccup: Getting revenge on the cheating soon-to-be ex-husband of her best-paying client is supposed to be easy. After all, he’s her neighbor. But something isn’t adding up. Malone is not only intriguingly handsome. He’s also a good listener, sympathetic, and adores kittens. He may look like the ex, but he isn’t acting like him. And how can Stella, a woman on the rebound, be even remotely tempted by the pizza-with-benefits relationship he suggests? That would be so bad for business.

There’s so much for Stella to learn—about karma, the charmer across the breezeway she’s falling for, and most importantly, herself. Love, revenge, and second chances—they all come with a little risk. And a twist.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Stella Stark, a process server whose life implodes the moment she returns home expecting a celebration—only to discover her professional and romantic partner has replaced her with someone younger. Heartbroken and furious, Stella leans on a group of fiercely supportive new friends who encourage her to turn her frustration into something productive.

That inspiration leads to the creation of Little Miss Petty, a clever side business where Stella designs entirely legal schemes to deliver well-deserved karma to people who have wronged others. Armed with determination, a sharp mind, and a hastily built website, Stella begins helping clients get satisfying—but lawful—revenge.

One case, however, becomes more complicated than expected when the target turns out to be her intriguing neighbor. As Stella spends more time observing the man she’s supposed to expose, she realizes he may not be the villain her client claims. The growing attraction between them only makes things more complicated.

Sally Kilpatrick blends romantic comedy and light mystery with charm and wit. Stella’s bold personality, investigative instincts, and emotional growth make her an engaging heroine, while the lively supporting cast adds humor and heart to a thoroughly entertaining story.

Wronged woman revenge

Neighbors to lovers

Found family

Misjudged hero

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Review – Love Grows Wild By Winter Renshaw

Wren Jensen thought she had it all—until she was left at the altar and left with nothing but writer’s block. Out of options, she packs up her five-year-old son and heads back to her hometown of Colton Valley, hoping the quiet countryside will inspire her again.

Hunter McCrae wanted that property for himself. The last thing the grumpy farmer expected was a single mom moving in next door—or how much she’d unsettle his carefully guarded solitude.

Wren isn’t looking for love. Hunter isn’t looking for neighbors. But with every stolen glance and shared moment, the walls they’ve built start to crack.

She’s haunted by heartbreak. He’s married to his solitude. Neither is ready to risk it all.

But sometimes love doesn’t follow rules. It grows wild, right where it’s not supposed to.

About The Author

My Review

This is about Wren Jensen, a romance author whose life takes an unexpected turn when she is left at the altar. Seeking a fresh start, she returns to her small hometown with her young son, Atticus, hoping the quiet countryside will help her heal and rediscover her creativity.

Her new beginning becomes more complicated when she meets Hunter McCrae, the grumpy farmer who lives next door and prefers the solitude of his rural life. At first, Hunter is reluctant to let anyone disrupt his routine, but Wren and Atticus slowly break through his guarded exterior. Hunter’s gentle interactions with Atticus add warmth to the story and highlight his softer side, making their growing bond feel genuine and heartfelt.

The romance between Wren and Hunter develops as a slow burn, built on honest conversations and growing trust. Their chemistry is clear from the start, and watching them build a potential family dynamic is one of the book’s strongest elements. However, when miscommunication and small-town rumors create conflict, the resolution feels somewhat rushed, leaving certain emotional tensions less explored than expected.

Overall, this novel offers a charming small-town setting, a tender single-mom romance, and emotional moments that make it an engaging and memorable read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review Card & Book Review- Fallen Hero By Riley Edwards

Former Navy SEAL Mason Hughes locked his heart away years ago after devastating betrayal. Now his iron control serves him well on dangerous missions…until a high-stakes operation in Dubai brings him face to face with the enigmatic Calista Ventura.

Calista is on a mission for vengeance, and the last thing she needs is the tempting distraction of the infuriating yet irresistible Mason. But when their missions become dangerously entangled, she finds herself relying on his lethal skills to stay alive.

As they work to expose an international trafficking ring, the heat between them becomes impossible to deny. Mason’s protective instincts war with Calista’s need to handle things alone. But in a world of deadly secrets and powerful enemies, trusting the wrong person could be fatal.

When Calista’s past catches up with them both, they’ll have to decide if the chance at love is worth risking everything they’ve fought to protect.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Calista, a fiercely independent mercenary whose life is driven by a single mission—avenging her sister. Hardened by loss and used to working alone, she trusts no one and keeps emotional distance from everyone around her. But when circumstances force her to work alongside Mason and his close-knit team, her carefully guarded world begins to shift.

Mason and his crew embody a strong found-family dynamic that brings warmth and humor to an otherwise intense, action-driven story. While Calista initially resists their support, the team gradually breaks through her defenses, showing her that loyalty and trust can exist even in the most dangerous circumstances.

At the center of the story is the slow-burning connection between Calista and Mason. From their first interactions there’s a magnetic pull neither fully understands, creating a tension-filled push and pull that builds steadily throughout the novel. As they face danger together, their bond deepens, revealing vulnerability beneath their tough exteriors.

Riley Edwards delivers a gripping romantic suspense filled with action, emotional growth, and compelling relationships. With a strong heroine, engaging team dynamics, and a rewarding slow-burn romance, Fallen Hero is an exciting and heartfelt read.

Revenge-driven heroine,

Forced proximity

Found family

Slow-burn romance.

My Rating