August 2026 – Page 3 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – Kill For A Million By Janet Dailey

Frank Culhane’s murder remains unsolved while his widow, Lila, is still battling to keep her beloved ranch from the grasp of his embittered first wife and grown children. As for arresting Frank’s killer, time is running out for Detective Sam Rafferty to prove himself and save his career, and for his number one suspect—and Lila’s lover—Culhane ranch manager Roper McKenna, to prove his innocence. Both men are staking their fates on the outcome of the imminent reining event of the year: the Run for a Million.

Roper’s dream of riding in Run for a Million is finally coming true. And for his struggling family, the
million-dollar prize will mean everything. He’ll be competing on borrowed stallion Fire Dance, with Lila’s legendary stallion, One in a Million, as one of his backups. For now, only winning matters. But suddenly, even that is in jeopardy . . .

On the road, a huge semi almost sideswipes Roper’s truck and horse trailer. He just manages to save the rig from rolling, but the horses are severely shaken. Was it an accident, or an attempt to sabotage Roper—or to kill Lila, who was supposed to have accompanied him?

Meanwhile, others are in turmoil of their own. There’s Sam’s clandestine affair with Lila’s pampered stepdaughter—and murder suspect—Jasmine; dangerous information Jasmine has about her mother; and a long-buried secret Roper’s sister harbors that could explode the Culhane dynasty. Then there is the sole witness to Frank’s murder—a witness who can’t speak, but may have a one in a million chance at revealing the truth . . .

About The Author

My Review

This book is about high-stakes competition, family loyalty, and a gripping search for justice. In the third instalment of the Rivalries series, the Culhane family reunites as lingering questions from earlier books finally come to the forefront especially the mystery surrounding Frank Culhane’s murder. At the same time, the prestigious Run for a Million competition raises the tension, blending ambition, danger, and romance into a fast-paced story.

Janet Dailey skillfully balances suspense and heartfelt relationships, creating a narrative that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The mystery unfolds alongside emotional character arcs, giving the story both urgency and warmth. Fans of the series will appreciate how the plot threads from previous books come together, while new readers can still enjoy the novel as a standalone.

The western setting, with its rodeos, horses, and cowboy lifestyle, adds excitement and authenticity, making the stakes feel vivid and real. Romance weaves naturally through the suspense, offering tender moments amid the drama. Compelling, entertaining, and difficult to put down, this novel delivers a satisfying blend of mystery and western romance.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 20 August 2026

The Cat Cafe Book Club By Rachel Rowlands

Brenna has moved to the countryside looking for peace and quiet with her many black cats. But Brenna is keeping a secret she can’t share with anyone…

Matt, the cheerful barista behind the counter at Catpurrcino, runs a monthly book club for locals to bring people (and cats) together.

When Matt and Brenna both reach for the same book at the library he invites her to come to the next meeting.

Brenna is wary of letting anyone new into her life, but she can’t say no to her two favourite things combined – cats and books – or Matt’s gorgeous smile.

Just as Brenna starts to think she has finally found a haven in the warmth and friendship of the book club they are rocked by terrible news: a big developer is threatening the future of not only the café, but the whole town.

Brenna and Matt vow to do all they can to save it. As they battle against the odds, Brenna begins to let the town, and Matt, into her heart.

Has Brenna finally found a place to call home? And what will happen when her past finally catches up to her?

The Greek Cafe By Sue Roberts

Tucked away on the edge of a lemon grove is a long-forgotten café overlooking a glittering blue sea. Erin gazes at the For Sale sign leaning against the faded blue door. Could this be the place to finally start over?

Newly single Erin is desperately in need of a fresh start. So when the opportunity to work at a holiday resort on a sun-soaked Greek island comes her way, she can’t say no. Even if it was the last place she visited with her ex-boyfriend…

A summer escape is just what Erin needs but forgetting her broken heart seems impossible. Then she stumbles across a charming old café hidden at the bottom of a forgotten lemon grove and feels instantly drawn to it. Despite the blue paint flaking on the door, she feels sure this is the place to help mend her heart.

Using all the savings she has, Erin decides to bring the café back to life with the help of sexy local boatsman, Takis. His broad shoulders and dark brown eyes make her stomach flutter. And as they work together to restore the café, Erin imagines what life could look like if she left her heartache in the past…

But just as Erin’s feelings for Takis begin to grow, a storm sweeps in and threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked for. Is this a sign Erin should book the next flight home? Or should she give this gorgeous island and love a second chance?

Italy And Forever By Leonie Mack

Wedding planner Ginny Weller is an unashamed romantic, optimist and believer in happy-ever-afters.

But after a string of disastrous boyfriends, even Ginny is beginning to have doubts. She decides the only course of action is to embark on a self-imposed dating ban. After all, her friends keep telling her that love will arrive when she stops looking.

A few months into the experiment, Ginny’s not convinced. The only man who has set her heart racing is grumpy photographer Rhys, and that was in annoyance rather than passion.

With a dream wedding in Italy to attend, Ginny and Rhys have no option but to spend time together. As the idyllic landscape of the Dolomites weaves its magic, she discovers a softer side to Rhys – and the secrets he’s been keeping – and her heart begins racing for all sorts of other reasons.

Can Ginny’s dating ban survive the most romantic country of all or will the dolce vita – and the ruggedly handsome Rhys – prove impossible to resist?

Review Card & Book Review- Happy Ever After At Samphire Bay By Sasha Morgan

It will take the whole village to help this couple find their happy ending…

When doctor Tara moves to Samphire Bay, local builder Jack is lovestruck for the first time in his life. But despite his determination to get to know her and her young son, Calum, Tara resists Jack’s charms. Not only does she have a complicated relationship with her ex, Calum’s dad, but he bitterly regrets letting Tara go and is making himself a nuisance in her new life.

Jack is set on proving to her that he’s here for good – not just for Tara, but also for Calum. The three quickly become inseparable, but more obstacles lie in their way. Family secrets and skeletons in the closet might just break Jack and Tara’s relationship, unless they can find a way to overcome their pasts for a future together.

Will Jack and Tara find their happy-ever-after in Samphire Bay?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about second chances, small-town charm, and the courage to start over. After a messy divorce, Tara arrives in Samphire Bay determined to rebuild her life and rediscover her confidence. What begins as a fresh start soon blossoms into a gentle, slow-burn romance when she meets Jack, a kind and dependable local builder who quietly becomes her greatest supporter.

Tara and Jack’s relationship is the heart of the novel, developing naturally from friendship into something deeper and more meaningful. Their chemistry feels warm and believable, and the emotional payoff is satisfying as Tara learns to trust again and embrace the possibility of happiness. Jack’s steady presence makes him wonderfully swoony without overshadowing Tara’s personal growth.

The story also explores the lingering complications of Tara’s past, including drama with her ex and the interconnected lives of the town’s residents. While the additional storylines occasionally make the narrative feel busy, they add texture and a lively sense of community.

KSamphire Bay itself is vividly brought to life, filled with charming characters and cozy seaside atmosphere. Heartfelt and uplifting, this is a feel-good romance perfect for fans of hopeful new beginnings.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Review Card & Book Review – Wake – Up Calls By Mariah Stewart

Kit Porterfield is coping with the upheaval of her personal life when another shock blindsides her. Maxine Meadows, an aunt she never knew existed, has bequeathed to her a rustic campground in Maine. With it comes a long-buried family secret that Kit’s late mother took great pains to hide for her entire life.

When Kit arrives to tenuously claim her inheritance, she learns the town’s history and finds the lakeside sporting camp and its beautiful wooded acres in need of restoration to their former glory. But it’s Kit’s own history that compels her to stay, and she’s not returning home until she uncovers the secrets that tore two sisters apart so many years ago.

Kit soon discovers clues in old photographs and in the tale of a tragic and enduring love story, but the most startling revelations are yet to come. For Kit, they could be the path to understanding the mystery that defined her mother’s life—and her own.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about unexpected inheritances, buried family truths, and the life-changing moments that force us to reimagine who we are. When Kit inherits a wilderness camp in Maine from an aunt she barely knew, what begins as a practical decision soon becomes a journey of self-discovery, connection, and emotional healing.

Mariah Stewart weaves a warm, immersive story as Kit, Beth, and Abby each face personal upheavals that challenge their assumptions about family, identity, and the paths they’ve chosen. The novel’s “wake-up calls” arrive through secrets, heartbreak, and difficult truths, pushing the characters toward growth and renewal. Stewart skillfully balances emotional depth with a comforting sense of hope, ensuring the story feels both poignant and uplifting.

Family, both inherited and chosen sits at the heart of the novel. The wilderness camp becomes a symbol of belonging and new beginnings, where friendships deepen and support systems form in the most unexpected ways. Stewart’s vivid writing brings the setting to life, making readers feel present for every triumph and struggle.

Tender, reflective, and inspiring, this novel beautifully celebrates transformation and the courage to embrace life’s surprises.

Unexpected Inheritance

Family Secrets

Fresh Start

Found Family

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 18 August 2026

The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook By Harper Graham

He’s a single Dad. Is she his new chapter? 🎃 🍂 🎃 🍂

A high-flying bookaholic with big dreams who can’t stick around. A protective, sexy single dad whose life is in Maple Falls. Right person, wrong timing… or the best plot twist ever? An utterly addictive autumn romance. Gilmore Girls + spice = 🔥

Robyn‘s totally committed to her job teaching literature at Yale. Her recent heartbreak led her to escape to a small-town bookstore. But it’s only temporary, no matter how much she obsesses over its cozy nook for indulging in books and pumpkin pie…. Or Tyler, its dark-haired, smouldering-eyed bookseller with an adorable little girl. NOTHING could keep her from going back to her dream career… right?

Tyler can’t help catching feelings for the cute professor hiding behind big glasses and a secretly steamy book. But watching his daughter Emma, with her pigtails and a serious llama obsession, grow attached to Robyn is a problem he didn’t see coming. Because Robyn is gorgeous, ambitious… and absolutely leaving town. Tyler can’t risk Emma’s heart getting broken, never mind his own…

But the sparks between them become impossible to resist. With Robyn’s return to Yale getting closer and Tyler falling more for her every day, can they walk away from their biggest love story yet?

My Chance To Fly By Samantha Tonge

Una Lowe lives a perfectly edited life in London. Other than her best friend, she’s careful about who she lets in. Emotional complications are just that – complicated. That is, until she rescues a rare white swallow… who might have just flown in to change her life.

Because, when her beloved swallow fails to return from migration one year, Una’s world crumbles. But a viral social media campaign brings a miraculous response from a man in Bavaria named Konrad, who claims the bird has also visited him. Which leads him to invite Una to his picturesque village for the chance to see their shared feathered friend together.

Stepping out of her comfort zone, Una flies to Germany. Amidst snow-dusted streets, local festivals, and Konrad’s undeniable charm, Una’s protective walls begin to fall down.

But when the complication she’s avoided her whole life comes for her, she’s forced to confront her deepest fears. As autumn turns to winter, and inspired by the tiny, brave bird that brought them together, Una must decide if she is finally ready to risk her heart.

Is the only way to know if you can fly to face a possibility of falling…?

Review Card & Book Review – The Night Before The Wedding By Emma Robinson

Looking out at the crystal clear waters of Sorrento, my heart aches at the loss of the future I’d allowed myself to dream. But Tom’s lie is bigger than I could have imagined. How can we survive it? My decision will shatter more than just my own heart. Am I really ready to say the words that will change everything?

It was supposed to be a week of bliss leading to our dream wedding on the Italian coast. But it’s obvious our families are against it. My mother questions why Tom has controlled so much of the planning, twisting his generous surprise into something sinister. Tom’s daughter, Lily, makes it known she’ll never see me as her mother.

Trying to focus on our dream day, I can’t help but notice a woman who spends every day at the pool, alone. She seems fascinated by Lily in a way that worries me. When Tom finally locks eyes with her, he immediately pales.

This week should have been the best time of our lives but before our future can begin, Tom will confess a secret that could destroy everything. But he’s not the only one who kept a past lie hidden for the sake of happily-ever-after. By the end of the week with both our secrets laid bare, will we really say, ‘I do’?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about secrets, trust, and the emotional reckoning that comes when the past refuses to stay buried. Carrie and Tom are preparing for an intimate Italian destination wedding, joined only by Tom’s daughter Lily and Carrie’s mother. But when a mysterious woman shows unusual interest in Lily, unease quickly replaces celebration. Tom’s suspicious reaction forces long-hidden truths into the open, triggering a chain of confessions that threaten to unravel everything before the vows are spoken.

Emma Robinson writes with warmth and emotional clarity, creating characters who feel deeply human in their fears, flaws, and hopes. Carrie’s growing anxiety and Tom’s guarded behaviour build tension that keeps the pages turning, while Lily’s presence adds tenderness and vulnerability to the unfolding drama. The story carefully balances suspense with heartfelt exploration of family dynamics and second chances.

What makes this novel shine is its compassion. Rather than focusing purely on betrayal, it highlights forgiveness, honesty, and the courage required to start anew. Emotional, engaging, and compelling, it’s a gripping pre-wedding drama that delivers both tension and heart.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 17 August 2026

Escape To The Sun By Rachel Barnett

One honeymoon. One broken promise. One unforgettable escape.

Alone on her dream Caribbean Christmas cruise after her husband’s betrayal, Hannah is determined to leave her heartbreak behind, honeymooning in solitude.

Until she meets Captain Louis King – charming, confident, and completely off-limits. She’s sworn off love… and he’s the man steering the ship.

But as island nights glow and the ocean carries them closer together, Hannah’s carefully rebuilt walls begin to crack.

When the voyage ends and the islands fade behind her, Hannah must decide if this Caribbean escape was only about healing, or the start of something she was never meant to find.

Review Card & Book Review- Making Sparks Fly At The Highland Repair Shop By Kiley Dunbar

The Highland Repair Shop is a place where anything can be fixed… from vintage radios and rusting bikes to hearts and lives. 🫶

Euan Sparks is back in town, newly self-employed and newly mortified after a disastrous first job threatens his fledgling electrician business. Can he prove that he belongs in Cairn Dhu?

Peaches McDowell is a gifted fashion student on the brink of her Master’s showcase. She’s focused, ambitious and bound tightly within the expectations of her formidable mother. Romance is a distraction she can’t afford. But when a crisis throws Peaches and Euan together at the repair shop, a spark is ignited…

Meanwhile, repair shop founder’s wife Roz McIntyre is also facing a turning point: a marriage in need of attention, an empty nest and the worrying question of what comes next.

As Beltane approaches and the town prepares for its wild and wonderful spring celebrations, can Peaches, Euan, Roz – and her husband – find the courage to let sparks fly?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about fresh starts, gentle romance, and the healing power of community.. Euan Sparks returns home determined to rebuild his electrician business, but an early disaster shakes his confidence and threatens his future. When he crosses paths with ambitious fashion student Peaches McDowell, their lives become unexpectedly intertwined, and a tender slow-burn romance begins to unfold.

Euan is instantly lovable—earnest, kind, and quietly determined—making it easy to root for him as he navigates setbacks and self-doubt. Peaches brings warmth and depth, balancing creative ambition with the pressure of a controlling mother and the looming expectations of her career. Their relationship develops naturally, filled with sweet moments, emotional honesty, and believable growth.

A standout element is Roz’s subplot, which thoughtfully explores long-term relationships and the strain of secrecy in marriage. This adds emotional richness and broadens the novel’s themes beyond first love.

The Highland setting sparkles with spring festivities and small-town charm, while the repair shop remains the emotional heart of the story—a place where broken things and people find renewal. Cozy, heartfelt, and uplifting, this romance leaves readers smiling.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 16 August 2026

A Recipe For Romance In Brambleton By Fay Keenan

Lauren Hope likes her life perfectly measured and ‘just so’.

Running her cosy café in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton provides all the fun and friendship she needs – from the safe side of the counter. But when her mother and long-time sounding board heads off on an adventure of her own, Lauren sees a chance to shake things up, especially when a mysterious new neighbour moves to the village.

Marc Hathaway is desperate for a fresh start. Still reeling from the loss of his wife, he’s moved to his dream house with his energetic six-year-old twin boys. Juggling single parenthood, a house that needs a makeover as much as he does and the approaching winter holidays, the last thing Marc expects to find is comfort in a bustling village café, not to mention a sudden, irresistible attraction to its kind-hearted owner.

As Lauren tentatively steps out of her comfort zone and Marc learns to open his fiercely guarded heart, could a touch of Lower Brambleton magic give them both the new beginning they deserve?

Review Card & Book Review- The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop By Debbie Johnson

“Take a leap of faith and visit our perfect little bookshop by the sea.” Bookshop owner Moira writes the first of many invitations she’ll send out into the world. They’ll find the right people, she’s certain…

Single and in a dead-end job, Kate feels hope spring when an anonymous invitation falls from the pages of a book. Now, she’s standing in a charming Scottish village and trying to ignore the six-four silver fox by her side. He’s got an invitation too, a husky Chicago accent, and dangerously gorgeous sea-blue eyes…

Widowed ex-police officer Brody never expected to be stranded in Scotland with a cute British lady. Her smile might be bewitching… but her attitude? Way too cheerful. And eccentric bookshop owner Moira says they can stay for free, as long as they don’t mind sharing one very cozy little cottage.

That’s the least of their problems. Turns out Moira’s bookshop needs them just as much as Kate and Brody need a fresh start. And with a twinkle in Moira’s mischievous matchmaking eye, things are soon hotting up in surprising ways!

But as they string fairy lights over snug reading nooks and rally the whole community to buy their favourite reads, can Kate and Brody save the bookshop and heal their hearts? Or will their fresh start come crashing down?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about second chances, gentle healing, and the magic of community found between the shelves of The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop. Set in the fictional Scottish village of Bonnie Bay, the story begins with septuagenarian Moira’s heartfelt plan to invite strangers in need of fresh starts to her beloved bookshop. After years of silence, two invitations are finally discovered, bringing Kate and Brody together on a journey that quietly reshapes all their lives.

Kate arrives burdened by divorce and career disappointment, while Brody is a widower adjusting to life after sending his daughter to university. Their initial hopes dim when they find the bookshop in disrepair, mirroring their own emotional weariness. Yet the charm of Bonnie Bay—its puffins, sea air, and welcoming community slowly works its quiet magic.

The developing romance between Kate and Brody is warm and easy, balancing grief, humour, and hope. More than romance, the novel celebrates rebuilding dreams at any age and finding belonging in unexpected places. Predictable in the best possible way, this comforting, uplifting read promises a series full of heart, friendship, and new beginnings.

Second Chances

Small-Town Romance

Widower Romance

Healing & New Beginnings

My Rating