September 9, 2026 – My Sanctuary

Winter Magic At Hollybrae Castle By Jaimie Admans

A Scottish castle, a fake marriage… and one very real Christmas romance?

After a window display goes disastrously viral – thanks to a malfunctioning animatronic Santa and an unfortunate encounter with Paddington Bear – Lula Haines finds herself without a job just weeks before Christmas. So she jumps at the chance to decorate Hollybrae Castle in Scotland for the holidays.

There’s just one complication: her handsome new boss, Oliver Bracewell, needs a fake wife for the festive season. To secure a promotion that could save his family’s castle, Ollie has been pretending to be a married father-of-two to impress the family-focused firm where he works. Now his bosses are coming to stay at Hollybrae over Christmas… expecting to meet his non-existent wife and children.

At first, playing along is easy as Lula is swept up in the magic of turning Hollybrae into the perfect festive escape with Ollie. But as Christmas draws nearer and she and Ollie grow closer, Lula begins to wonder if Hollybrae could become more than a temporary escape… and if the man she’s only pretending to love might actually be the one she’s been waiting for all along.

Welcome to a very special book club – where stories are shared, secrets kept, and friendships found.

Howard, newly retired to Dorset, joins because he can’t sleep; the weekly sessions give him an opportunity to connect. Margot logs in only after her husband’s fallen asleep – her life has grown small, and the club is the one place she can still be herself. And on the other side of the world, Faye joins to escape her sister’s latest crisis and feel, for an hour, that she belongs somewhere.

For each of them, the book club is more than a hobby – it’s a lifeline.

So when Howard suddenly disappears from the meetings, everything changes. Determined to be there for their friend, Faye and Margot must step out of their own troubled lives and travel to Dorset – where the truth behind Howard’s silence may turn out to be the most unexpected story of all…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about the quiet magic of connection and how a simple book club can transform lonely lives. In this book, Helen Rolfe creates a gentle, uplifting story that celebrates friendship in its most unexpected forms.

The novel follows three strangers brought together by a virtual seaside book club. Howard is newly retired and struggling with a loneliness he can barely name. Margot joins secretly, seeking a safe space to be herself without judgement. Faye, calling in from afar, treasures the meetings as a rare moment of calm away from family turmoil. Each arrives carrying quiet grief and unmet needs, and their bond grows naturally through shared stories and small moments of kindness.

When Howard suddenly disappears from the meetings, the tone shifts from cosy to quietly urgent. Margot and Faye’s decision to travel to Dorset in search of answers adds warmth, gentle humour, and emotional depth, turning online friendship into real-world loyalty.

This is a heartfelt, comforting read about second chances, chosen family, and the healing power of being truly seen. It leaves readers with a hopeful reminder that meaningful friendships can begin anywhere—even in a small, virtual room.

Found Family

Book Club

Seaside Community

Healing & Second Chances

My Rating