November 10, 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Book & Book Review- Blue Skies Ahead By Jessica Redland

‘This is an exciting new start for you all. Blue skies are ahead.’

Leaving behind everything she thought she knew, Grace arrives at Hazelwick Farm with her teenage daughter, Maddie, and her mother, Frances, ready to build a new life together.

Grace has dreamt of fresh air, open skies and days filled with taking care of the animals while building a family business together. But starting over isn’t as simple as she hoped.

Maddie has barely spoken to her since the divorce from her father and Grace doesn’t know how to fix what she doesn’t fully understand. Between strained silences at home, and the demands of getting the farm ready to open for business, Grace begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake.

Yet life at Hazelwick Farm has its surprises. Grace keeps crossing paths with handsome tenant, Caleb, whether she means to or not. Could this unexpected connection be the start of something she never saw coming?

About The Author

My Review

This is about fresh starts, family healing, and finding hope after life takes an unexpected turn. Jessica Redland brings together three generations—Grace, her mother Frances, and teenage daughter Maddie—as they begin a new chapter on a charming Northumberland farm. The rural setting is beautifully described, creating a warm, comforting atmosphere filled with lovable animals, supportive neighbours, and the promise of new beginnings. Grace’s growing connection with the local vet adds a gentle romantic thread that complements the story without overshadowing its emotional core.

The strongest aspect of the novel is its exploration of family relationships. Grace’s unwavering patience and Frances’s steady support feel authentic and heartfelt. While Maddie’s prolonged resentment and disrespect can become frustrating, her behaviour also reflects the emotional turmoil many teenagers experience during significant life changes. The tension occasionally lingers longer than necessary, but it ultimately makes the family’s reconciliation feel more rewarding.

Overall, this is an uplifting, emotionally rich read that celebrates resilience, community, second chances, and the healing power of love, family, and the companionship of animals.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 10 November 2026

Set Your Life On Fire By Maddie Dawson

After ditching her cheating husband, Tasha Jensen packs her bags, cleans out their joint account, and heads for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to catch the next flight to LA. There, falling apart and with the airport grounded by an ice storm, Tasha meets the annoyingly optimistic Carter McGee, who’s traveling to stop his ex-wife’s wedding. With time running out, they hit the road in a sketchy rental van for a chaotic seventeen-hundred-mile road trip.

Two heartbroken strangers rushing together toward the unknown—what could go wrong? Maybe everything. Between breakdowns, both automotive and emotional, arguments, and sleeplessness, they find an unlikely connection—as well as the floofiest Pomeranian puppy. Cheering them on is Carter’s matchmaking grandmother Bootsie, whose California beachfront motel is a nurturing haven for feisty, colorful, and opinionated women of a certain age.

It’s the perfect place for Tasha and Carter to take a breather and perhaps let go of the past—but can they learn to trust themselves again?

The Hot Chocolate Hotel By Donna Ashcroft

Lacey Dupont is usually out Christmas shopping in London at this time of year and would normally be careering down Oxford Street laden with perfectly gift-wrapped packages. But this December, her heart is in shreds over her cheating ex and she’s driving her little red car to the Scottish village of Honey Haven to get as far away from him as possible.

Scott McRae, owner of The Hot Chocolate Hotel, is there as she tumbles through the door of the first hotel she can find when her car breaks down. Only, his gruff exterior isn’t exactly welcoming, even if the steaming mug of cocoa he offers her is. Her inability to pay for her room doesn’t exactly cheer him up. But he’s low on staff and high on festive chores. And she’s more than willing to work for a place to stay until her car is in action again. If they can keep it under wraps, that is. Because the last thing Lacey wants is to be found…

As festive preparations bring the two closer together, their chemistry starts to hot up faster than the mulled wine they’re dishing out to guests. The two lock eyes over the fairy lights they’re delicately draping on the tree, any unpaid hotel stays long forgotten – and everything else, for that matter.

But when the hotel’s heavy oak door swings open and Lacey sees who’s burst in with the flurry of snow from outside, she knows that life in this little chocolate-box Scottish village is about to come to a screeching halt.

Review Card & Book Review – Not That Kind Of Proposal By Victoria Lavine

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…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Gracie, an optimistic wedding planner searching for her own happily ever after, and Jude, a guarded divorce lawyer whose painful past has convinced him love is more complicated than fairy tales. When their opposing careers bring them together, sparks fly as strangers become rivals before discovering something far deeper.

Victoria Lavine crafts an emotionally rich romance that perfectly balances witty banter, simmering tension, and heartfelt vulnerability. Gracie’s longing to feel valued by her family is portrayed with sensitivity, making her journey toward self-worth both relatable and inspiring. Jude is far more layered than he first appears, carrying family secrets and emotional scars that add remarkable depth to his character. Watching both of them confront old wounds and gradually heal is one of the novel’s greatest strengths.

The chemistry between Gracie and Jude is undeniable from their very first meeting, making their rivals-to-lovers dynamic incredibly satisfying. Their playful exchanges, growing trust, and undeniable attraction create a romance that feels both exciting and deeply emotional.

Filled with humour, healing, and unforgettable characters, This is a heartfelt contemporary romance that delivers swoon-worthy moments alongside genuine emotional growth.

My Rating