Book Review – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review- The Best Christmas Choir Ever By Elizabeth Hrib

Music was everything to professional soprano Charlie Ward…until her brother died, leaving her lost in grief. But when her beloved Gram moves into the Glendale Retirement Village, Charlie is cajoled into temporarily volunteering to direct the community’s new choir, their sights set on winning the Annual Christmas Choir Competition.

Only, the home’s activities director happens to be the super-cute guy she once spent a hot, hazy, sexy summer with. Julian Guerrero hasn’t forgotten Charlie Ward. Not even a little. Fortunately, he has his hands full with the lively residents who are determined to win, even if they must twerk their way to victory.

Amid mince tarts, gingerbread houses and Christmas lights, Charlie and Julian must find a way to transform their quirky singing seniors into a sensation. It’ll take hard work. It’ll take heart. And it’ll take just enough holiday magic to surprise everyone…Charlie most of all.

About The Author

My Review

This is a festive, funny, and unexpectedly emotional holiday romance that strikes a charming balance between chaos and heart. Charlie Ward, a Juilliard-trained soprano still reeling from the loss of her brother, returns home to help her grandmother settle into Glendale Retirement Village—only to discover that the place is run by Julian Guerrero, the man she once loved and never quite got over. When Julian convinces her to lead the residents in a Christmas choir competition, reluctant collaboration turns into a journey of healing, forgiveness, and rediscovered joy.

The book shines brightest in its portrayal of the retirement community’s mischievous residents—each one a delightful blend of sass, wisdom, and heart. Their antics bring humor and warmth to Charlie’s grief and Julian’s quiet devotion. While the second-chance romance sometimes feels uneven, the emotional depth surrounding love, loss, and finding your voice again more than makes up for it.

With laughter, tears, and a sprinkle of spice, this is a cozy, heartfelt holiday story that hits just the right notes of redemption and joy.

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Review Card & Book Review- Stupid Magical Love By Amy Boyles

Ever since the magic dried up in Mystic Meadows, Rowe Wadley has fallen on hard times. Her piggycorns aren’t selling, and the family farm is in foreclosure. Then handsome Pane Maddox comes knocking. His pitch: I’m here to save your farm.

The hottie isn’t exactly selfless. His own future is on the line. Competing to become president of a luxury hotel chain, Pane has sixty days to whip a struggling business into shape. Which is okay by Rowe—that means putting the privileged and smug city slicker to work. But Pane never guessed he’d find farm labor so fulfilling, or the spunky country girl so down-to-earth appealing. To Rowe’s surprise, she’s seeing a whole new side to Pane. His dazzling green eyes aren’t bad, either. Soon, sparks fly on the piggycorn farm.

Once this high-stakes bet is over, Rowe knows that Pane is moving on. Though saving the farm is a dream, Rowe fears that now she’s about to lose her heart.

About The Author

My Review

This is a delightful, lighthearted romance sprinkled with humor, heart, and just the right dose of magic. Rowe Wadley is struggling to save her family’s beloved piggycorn ranch—home to the most adorable magical creatures imaginable—from foreclosure. Desperate to keep her legacy alive, she never expects help to come from Pane Maddox, a sharp, confident businessman tasked with proving his worth by rescuing a failing enterprise within two months to earn the CEO position in his family’s hotel empire.

When Pane arrives in Rowe’s small, magical town, sparks fly—both romantic and literal. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their clashing personalities make for a fun, engaging dynamic that slowly softens into mutual respect and affection. Boyles masterfully balances humor and heart, weaving in lessons about trust, teamwork, and believing in yourself.

Whimsical, romantic, and uplifting, Stupid Magical Love is a perfect feel-good escape for anyone who loves small-town charm and magical romance.

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Review Card & Book Review- Lost Alaskan Memories By Heidi McCahan

An unexpected homecoming
brings another chance at love.

For two years, mountaineer Max Butler was presumed dead after a tragic climbing accident in Peru…until his return to his small town of Opportunity, Alaska. But now a traumatic brain injury keeps him from remembering his former life and who he left behind—including physical therapist Hayley Morgan. Heartbroken after Max chose his mountaineering dreams over her, Hayley is determined to guard her heart against him, even as he steps in to help her with babysitting duties for his infant sister. As Max slowly regains fragments of his past and buried feelings resurface, can Hayley convince him to stay…for a second chance at happiness?

About The Author

My Review

This is a tender, faith-filled romance about second chances, forgiveness, and rediscovering love after loss. The story follows Max Butler, who vanished after a mountain-climbing accident in Peru and was presumed dead. Two years later, he returns home to Opportunity, Alaska—alive but with no memory of his past, including Hayley Morgan, the woman he once loved and left behind.

Hayley has worked hard to rebuild her life and pursue her dream of creating an indoor recreation center, but Max’s sudden reappearance stirs old emotions and unfinished heartache. As Max reconnects with his family and slowly integrates into the small-town community, his gentle spirit and kindness begin to touch Hayley’s heart once again. Yet, the pain of the past and the uncertainty of his memory make their path to reconciliation far from simple.

McCahan’s writing radiates warmth, hope, and emotional honesty. With beautifully drawn characters, a strong sense of place, and a poignant exploration of healing and faith, Lost Alaskan Memories is a captivating story of love rediscovered and the grace of new beginnings.

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Review Card & Book Review – It’s Not Me, It’s You By Jo Lovett

Freya writes bestselling romance novels for a living, but off the page, she doesn’t believe in happy endings.

Jake is a divorced divorce lawyer who does believe in romance – despite every day seeing the results of failed relationships.

When a TV news segment captures their very public disagreement about modern love, the clip goes viral, and to settle the debate, they strike a deal: Jake will find Freya her perfect match, and Freya will convince Jake that romance is a fairy tale best left in fiction.

The rules are simple. The stakes are high. And the chemistry? Undeniable.

About The Author

My Review

This is a sharp, funny, and wonderfully heartfelt romantic comedy that delivers equal measures of laughter and emotion. The story follows Freya, a romance novelist who no longer believes in happy endings, and Jake, a cynical yet secretly hopeful divorce lawyer. When their fiery exchange on a live TV show about love and marriage goes viral, they make a daring bet: Jake will help Freya find her perfect match, while she’ll convince him that romance is a myth. What follows is a delightful mix of witty clashes, unexpected vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry.

Lovett writes with warmth and intelligence, crafting characters who feel authentic and deeply human. The banter sparkles, the comedic moments land perfectly, and the quieter, emotional scenes resonate with sincerity. The novel beautifully captures how fear of heartbreak can shape our choices and how love often arrives when least expected. With its perfect blend of humor, heart, and hope, It’s Not Me, It’s You is a feel-good gem that reminds readers that sometimes the best love stories start with an argument.

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Review Card & Book Review- Christmas At The Scottish Lodge By Donna Ashcroft

Thirty-three-year-oldMairi is spending Christmas at her Aunt Effie’s ski lodge. It’s her favourite place, where she spent every childhood holiday, and the comforting view of the mountain tops is just what she needs after a rollercoaster year. But Mairi finds herself unexpectedly snowed in, along with her handsome ex Jed Murray…

As the snowflakes fall heavily outside, she closes her eyes to block out the sight of Jed’s dark hair and broad shoulders, his muscles flexing as he stacks the logs he’s gathered to build them a fire. But even though they’re united in their goal of getting Effie’s lodge ready for Christmas, Mairi is determined not to fall for Jed again.

Except moving on from him is easier said than done when they’re in such close quarters. Their time together draping tinsel around the Christmas tree and baking gingerbread cookies in the kitchen makes the memories of how good they were together all come rushing back. But will Jed reveal the real reason he left and earn Mairi’s trust once more?

About The Author

My Review

This is a witty, sparkling, and heartwarming festive romance that perfectly blends humor, emotion, and holiday cheer. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of a snowy Scottish village, the story follows Mairi, a romance author with trust issues, and Jed, a former skier burdened by family expectations. Though they come from different worlds, their chemistry is undeniable, and their journey toward love is as tender as it is passionate.

Ashcroft excels at crafting relatable, flawed, yet deeply lovable characters whose emotional growth feels authentic. The novel explores themes of forgiveness, self-worth, and the courage to open one’s heart again. The relationships—both romantic and familial—are beautifully layered, enriched by supportive friends, lively pets, and plenty of festive sparkle.

Ashcroft’s vivid descriptions bring the Scottish winter to life, from the scent of pine to the twinkle of fairy lights. Uplifting, romantic, and filled with second chances, Christmas at the Scottish Lodge is pure festive joy—a story that warms the heart, soothes the soul, and reminds us of love’s quiet magic.

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Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Christmas Wishes And Irish Kisses By Debbie Johnson

From crying into Santa’s beard at Macy’s department store, to working the bar at a historic seaside inn thousands of miles away, Ellie de Vere has been through it all this Christmas season…

When Ellie trades her hectic New York life for the twinkling lights and snow-dusted charm of her childhood village of St Tilda, it’s only to help her ailing father through the Christmas rush at their cozy family inn.

But all the festive holly, crackling fires and mulled cider in the world can’t prepare Ellie for who she finds waiting for her back home. Her ex best friend Liam is also in town for the holidays… and they haven’t seen each other in twenty years. He’s now a devastatingly handsome single father with the same Irish lilt that always made her breath catch. If only he hadn’t broken her heart irreparably all those years ago…

Can Ellie forgive Liam for what he did that disastrous final night in St Tilda? And is he even the same man she used to know? As Christmas approaches and old feelings refuse to stay buried, will Ellie finally find the courage to rewrite her future?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartwarming festive tale brimming with charm, emotion, and a touch of Irish magic. It tells the story of Ellie, a woman who swapped her peaceful Irish roots for the fast-paced life of New York. When she returns to her hometown of St. Tilda to care for her ailing mother, she’s confronted by the memories—and people—she thought she’d left behind.

What begins as an unwelcome homecoming slowly turns into a healing journey filled with rediscovery, forgiveness, and love. Johnson beautifully captures the spirit of Christmas—the glow of fairy lights, the comfort of community, and the courage it takes to open one’s heart again. Ellie’s transformation feels tender and authentic, while the romance that blooms along the way adds warmth without overshadowing her personal growth.

With her trademark humor, rich emotional depth, and vivid sense of place, Johnson crafts a cozy, uplifting read. Christmas Wishes & Irish Kisses is a beautifully written reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are second chances and the rediscovery of home.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- For One Moment With You By Debbie Howells

What if you met the one a week before your wedding to another man?

When Tilly meets Adam, just a week before she’s about to marry Gareth, she knows it can never be. She’s made a commitment, and it’s one she knows she has to stick with, however strong the pull is between them.

Tilly and Adam’s paths will cross, again and again, over twenty years. But Tilly’s a wife now, a mother too, not to mention a person looking after her ailing parent… Sometimes it feels like she’s forgotten how to be herself. It’s only when Gareth drops a bombshell about their marriage, that she decides to put herself at the centre of her own story.

So she books a one-way ticket to San Jose – a place she’s only heard about in a song. But fate seems to be leading her in another direction… and perhaps to exactly the place she’s meant to be, and to the person she’s meant to be with.

About The Author

My Review

This is an exquisitely written, emotionally resonant story about love, timing, and the choices that shape a life. Debbie Howells captures the quiet heartbreak of missed chances and the courage it takes to rediscover oneself after years of living for others. The novel follows Tilly, who, just a week before her wedding to the dependable Gareth, meets Adam—a man who awakens a deep sense of possibility and passion. Over the next two decades, as Tilly becomes a wife, mother, and caregiver, the memory of that fleeting connection lingers, reminding her of the woman she once dreamed of being.

Howells writes with a tenderness reminiscent of Jojo Moyes and David Nicholls, balancing melancholy with hope. Her prose is both lyrical and grounded, evoking the ache of “what if” while celebrating resilience and renewal. Tilly’s emotional journey feels authentic and deeply human—a testament to the complexity of love and the quiet bravery required to reclaim one’s happiness. Poignant, reflective, and beautifully crafted, this novel lingers like a wistful melody.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Blue Collar Billionaire By Amy Andrews

As a busy ER intern, Holly Vincent doesn’t have time for extracurricular activities.

But when she’s stranded in a broken elevator for a few hours with irritatingly cocky, hotter-than-the-sun, downstairs neighbour Danny Colton, she decides to bend her rules and let the filthy-mouthed hottie talk her into having some fun.

Drummer by night, and maintenance man by day, Danny Colton is more than happy to show bookish Dr Prim what she’s been missing out on. After all, what else are they going to do until they’re rescued?

But when it’s back to reality, one wild tryst night isn’t enough for Danny and whilst they’re drawn to each other like magnets, Holly has no time for dating between study and the unrelenting exhaustion of shiftwork.

Suddenly, though, Danny’s world changes in the form of a surprise billion-dollar inheritance, and he figures it could be the key to winning Holly’s heart. Wrong. He soon finds out that money can’t buy him love. For that, he’s going to need to be much more creative!

About The Author

My Review

This is a steamy, opposites-attract romance that hooks you from the first snarky exchange. Holly, a no-nonsense ER doctor, is used to keeping control—until Danny, the tattooed, easygoing drummer-slash-handyman, throws her carefully ordered life into chaos. Their chemistry crackles with tension, and when fate traps them together in an elevator, sparks turn into a full-on fire. What follows is a flirty, fast-paced story about letting go, taking risks, and finding unexpected connection in the least likely places.

Amy Andrews excels at balancing heat and humor, making Danny irresistible—a perfect mix of cocky charm and genuine warmth. Holly’s stubborn, overthinking nature makes her relatable, even when she’s fighting what’s clearly meant to be. The banter is sharp, the intimacy electric, and the emotional payoff satisfying.

If you love short, sexy reads with strong chemistry and heart, Blue Collar Billionaire is a fun, flirty escape worth picking up.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- A Cozy Kind Of Christmas By Ellie Alexander

Journalist Meg Reed is about to find out that sometimes the best stories aren’t the ones you’re assigned to write— they’re the ones you’re brave enough to live.

Meg thought she’d closed the door on her past when she left Oregon—and her ex, Matt Parker—for her dream job at ESPN. But when her editor assigns her to cover a winter sports event during the holidays, Meg finds herself face-to-face with everything she left behind.

Matt’s throwing his thirtieth birthday bash, and Meg’s determined to keep things professional—attend the party for old time’s sake, cover the story and get back to her carefully constructed life in New York.

And then she sees Matt again.

When their eyes meet across the festive lodge with its crackling fire and glittering Christmas trees, seven years dissolve in an instant. The chemistry that once burned between them flickers back to life, bringing with it all the complicated feelings she thought she’d dealt with.

As Meg sips hot chocolate in her cozy log cabin and tries to focus on crafting her feature story, she can’t shake the pull of old dreams and new possibilities. Some feelings don’t fade—and some people are worth fighting for. But is it too late for second chances?

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, feel-good holiday tale about friendship, second chances, and rediscovering what truly matters. Set against the charming backdrop of a snow-dusted Oregon town, the story follows Meg, a driven ESPN reporter returning home to cover a news story—only to cross paths with her ex, Matt, whose easy charm and steady presence reignite old feelings.

Told through the perspectives of Meg, her boss Johanna, and her best friend Jill, the novel beautifully intertwines three women’s emotional journeys. Each faces crossroads in love and life—Meg with her career-versus-heart dilemma, Johanna with her crumbling relationship, and Jill with her own hidden struggles. Alexander masterfully balances humor and heart, wrapping each storyline in the comforting glow of friendship and festive spirit.

Filled with cozy small-town charm, nostalgic holiday moments, and the reminder that home is as much about people as place, A Cozy Kind of Christmas is a delightful, uplifting read. Perfect for curling up with a blanket and a mug of cocoa, it captures the true magic of Christmas connection.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Card – The Monday Night Heartbreak Club By Jane Lovering

Is your love life a bit of a disaster? You’re not alone…

When Fee finds herself drunk, dumped and directionless on Valentine’s Day, she stumbles across a flyer for a new club, for people united by heartbreak. Intrigued, she joins a motley group of strangers at a quiet Yorkshire wine bar the following Monday night.

There’s Margot, in the middle of a bitter divorce;

Annie, whose husband of forty years she suspects is having an affair;

Wren, quietly nursing her own romantic regrets;

and Fraser, who may have mistaken the group for a dating opportunity.

But what begins as a weekly wallow soon becomes something more, especially when the club starts an undercover operation to discover the truth about Annie’s husband and his infidelity.

For Fee, who’s only just holding on to any self-worth she had left, the Monday Night Heartbreak Club offers something she never expected: purpose, friendship and maybe even a fresh start.

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, witty, and deeply human story about heartbreak, healing, and the unexpected families we build when life falls apart. Fee, fresh from a disastrous breakup and nursing a bruised heart (and hangover), stumbles into the quirky but welcoming circle of the Monday Night Heartbreak Club—a mismatched group of lonely souls united by disappointment in love.

Lovering’s signature humor and emotional insight shine as she introduces a cast of endearing characters: formidable Margot, sweet Annie, recently single Wren, cheeky Fraser, and Flynn, the sardonic bartender who brings charm and quiet depth. As the group rallies around Annie, their shared compassion and chaos transform them from strangers into a found family.

The novel perfectly balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotional warmth. Beneath the banter lies a touching message about resilience, vulnerability, and learning to trust again. While there’s romance, the real love story is the one between friends who help each other rebuild.

Heartfelt, funny, and full of charm, The Monday Night Heartbreak Club is the literary equivalent of a comforting hug and a good laugh.

My Rating