Publication Day – My Sanctuary

Happy Publication Day – 8 October 2026

The Sugar And Spice Bookshop Bakery By Jennifer Page

Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing perfectly neat love stories, where heartbreak leads to fresh starts, charming small businesses bloom, and happily-ever-afters are guaranteed.

But now in her forties, she’s quit her job – and no, she doesn’t want to talk about why – and returned home to Applethwaite, the small Yorkshire village where she grew up. Starting over doesn’t feel nearly so much fun in real life as it does in fiction.

It also doesn’t help that her mother is convinced she’s here to run the family bakery, especially as the locals can’t get enough of Louise’s legendary ginger cake and scrumptious scones. Between renovations, a quirky ex-stepdaughter (who’s unexpectedly come to stay) and a gorgeous Italian who seems too good to be true, Louise’s second chance begins to take shape.

After a lifetime spent polishing other people’s happy endings, will Louise finally have one of her own?

Counting Down To You By Emily Stone

Ali has always loved Christmas. She and her best friend Robyn had a tradition to exchange advent calendars filled, not with chocolate, but with fun challenges to complete.

Only this year, there is no Robyn. Ali would rather skip December altogether, and the reminders it will bring.

But before she died, Robyn left Ali one last calendar.

The first challenge? Book a flight to Chatel, in the French Alps.

The second challenge? Post a selfie with an attractive man to make your ex jealous.

Determined to give Robyn’s calendar her all, Ali takes a position in a hotel in Chatel, nestled in the snowcapped mountains, and snaps a selfie with a gorgeous stranger on the way.

But when she arrives, Ali is shocked to realise the surly hotel manager is the man from her photo. And now everyone already thinks she’s dating the boss…

Suddenly the season looks a lot more complicated than she’d planned. But as the snow falls, will this be the Christmas to thaw Ali’s heart?

The Secret Holiday Kiss By Cressy McLaughlin

In a seaside village, where the winter sunset meets the sea, Daisy is coming home …

When her perfect life falls apart, Daisy returns to Mistingham, determined it’s a temporary stop until she can find her feet again.

She hasn’t counted on the community’s irresistible (aka infuriating) festive spirit. Or on Avery, building a grand house near the village green – his optimism and easy smile are proving equally hard to resist.

As Mistingham works its magic, Daisy wonders if her heart has known where home is all along.

Happy Publication Day – 7 October 2026

Break The Ice By Kristen Bailey

Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver a rescue puppy to her sister’s family in Devon. Armed with a pink woolly hat and a heart full of good intentions, she’s determined to make it happen.

The only problem? She doesn’t have a car. Joshua, her sister’s American house sitter, does.

Joshua came to England to focus on his work and heal a broken heart. Spending Christmas Eve driving a relentlessly cheerful stranger and a howling dog through a blizzard was not part of his plan.

But Phoebe is very persuasive. And somewhere between an impromptu snowball fight and a night sheltering in a firelit shepherd’s hut, the frost between them begins to melt.

Soon what started as a chaotic road trip turns into an even bigger adventure: falling in love.

Happy Publication Day – 6 October 2026

The Christmas Yes List By Melissa Ferguson

All she wants for Christmas is a rejection.

Chloe Hollis is done being a people-pleaser. After one too many bad decisions–including a job that asked her to cross a line she couldn’t–she’s determined to change. Her plan? Collect ten nos before Christmas by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can think of.

It should be easy.

But then? Then she meets James.

Instead of shutting her down, the charming out-of-towner keeps saying yes–to Christmas karaoke, to small-town holiday traditions, to every spontaneous, hilarious, totally chaotic idea she throws his way. And the more he says yes, the harder it becomes for Chloe to stick to her plan . . . or protect her heart.

Because James has a reason for saying yes to everything, too–and it might cost them both more than they bargained for.

As their opposite missions collide in a swirl of festive mishaps, unexpected courage, and undeniable chemistry, Chloe starts to wonder if the biggest risk isn’t rejection after all . . . but saying yes to something real.

Not Home Alone By Kayley Loring

She just walked into her dream Christmas rental… and found her worst enemy already unpacked.

Eternal optimist Merrily Tucker is excited to spend Christmas in the most beautiful house in town; a twinkly, tinsel-lined rental that’s just hers for the holidays. But inside is one big problem… the man who once turned her down in front of the whole of Holly Grove, irritatingly handsome, certified Grinch Grant Moody. He says he’s the owner. And he’s planning to spend Christmas here too.

The town might think he’s a playboy, but Grant Moody is determined to spend his Christmas nights alone. Zero decorations, a ban on baked goods, and definitely no holiday spirit. A mix-up with the rental company isn’t going to get in his way. Even if the woman at his door is the irresistibly gorgeous one-who-got-away Merrily Tucker…

Merrily and Grant are both too stubborn to leave.

Battling for control over what music plays on the speakers and heaving Christmas trees in and out of the house, they find themselves all tangled in tinsel. But Merrily’s “when I think about you, I touch my elf” t-shirt has Grant’s candy cane tingling in a way that begs the question…

A Magical Scottish Christmas By Ellie Henderson

A snowbound village. A cosy inn worth fighting for. And a Christmas that could change everything.

Three years ago, Lily Thomas came to Rowan Bay looking for a fresh start. She found it at a cosy inn on the shores of Loch Lomond — and made it the heart of the village.

Now the owners are selling to a faceless hotel chain, and Lily has until New Year to save the place she finally calls home.

Luckily, she knows exactly who to ask.

Hamish Galbraith runs the village whisky distillery, volunteers with mountain rescue, and is currently dog-sitting a Labrador called Kevin. He’s also been Lily’s closest friend since the day she arrived.

Which is precisely why she’s tried so hard not to fall for him.

But as snow blankets Rowan Bay and Christmas markets, festive afternoon teas and a very special whisky launch bring Lily and Hamish closer, friendship starts to feel dangerously like love.

Then a face from Lily’s past walks through the inn door — threatening everything she’s built.

With Christmas approaching and the whole village behind her, can Lily fight for the home she’s built . . . and finally trust her heart?

Best Mistake Ever By Ashley Eden

I would do anything for my grumpy boss, even agree to be his fake fiancée for a weekend.

Monty’s mother is expecting to finally meet the future Mrs. Crawford and begin planning a destination wedding in paradise.

Rather than break her heart by telling her his actual engagement is off, Monty wants me to play the part of his bride. In fact, he says I’m the only one he actually trusts to pull this off.

He tells me that the plan is simple.

We’ll argue constantly, I’ll complain about everything, his mom will see that we’re completely wrong for each other, and we’ll fly home to stage our breakup.

Easy.

Except his mother absolutely loves me and thinks Monty and I are perfect for each other.

Suddenly, I’m starting to wonder if pretending to be in love with my boss might be the worst idea ever or the best mistake I’ve ever made.

Review Card & Book Review- A New Year In The Presidential Suite By Judith Keim

A New Year…A New Chance at Life

As a Christmas surprise, Lori Hamlin’s family sends her to The Beach House Hotel on the Gulf Coast of Florida to help her recover from the loss of her husband two years ago, hoping she will realize it’s time to change her life. There, she meets Griffin Sawyer, who’s on his own after his fiancée left him at the altar. Neither one is interested in anything but friendship, but Lori and Griff decide to spend the New Year’s holiday together.

Griff has to leave unexpectedly because his grandfather, the owner of the Adeline Hills Winery, has had a stroke. Having been told about wine and growing grapes by Griff, Lori decides to learn more. And when she signs up for a stay at the winery’s guest cottage, she meets Griff and his entire family. Then, they must decide if friendship is what they truly want or if the past will prevent them from moving forward.

A special spin-off book where characters have their own stories but end up at The Beach House Hotel in Florida with Ann and Rhonda. A chance to stay connected to the series in a different way.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Lori Hamlin, a young widow finding her way back to life, and Griffin Sawyer, a man recovering from being left at the altar, who meet during a holiday stay at The Beach House Hotel. Both arrive seeking peace and emotional reset, but instead find unexpected companionship that slowly grows into something deeper. Lori, still carrying grief from her husband’s death, is encouraged by her family to take a Christmas getaway. Griffin, pressured by his family legacy and shaken by betrayal, hopes distance will clear his head. Their decision to spend time together as friends creates a safe space where healing begins. However, life pulls them apart when Griffin returns to his family vineyard after his grandfather suffers a heart attack, and Lori heads home where she reconnects with her past and is given an opportunity to work at the vineyard. Lori’s journey becomes one of rediscovering purpose while learning she can honor her late husband while still embracing new love, while Griffin must decide between duty and his own happiness. A heartfelt story of second chances

Friends to lovers

Second chance at love

Holiday romance

Healing hearts

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 5 October 2026

You Were Always The One By Debbie Howells

He’s the one she walked away from. She’s the one he never forgot…

Eighteen years ago, Holly broke up with the love of her life, Riggs, so she could become the ‘grown-up’ she felt ready to be. Then Miles came into her life, with the promise of everything they could be together. And for a long time, their home and family felt like enough.

But now Miles has betrayed Holly, and she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about love, marriage and happiness.

And then she bumps into a stranger on the street. Except it’s not a stranger. It’s Riggs. And one look at him is enough to tell her – she never stopped loving him. But is it enough for her to contemplate leaving the life she’s built, even if it no longer makes her happy?

Determined to be honest with herself and with Miles, Holly starts thinking about a very different future. But then Miles makes an announcement that changes everything…

Happy Publication Day – 2 October 2026

Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay By Eliza J Scott

A wintry treat brimming with snowflakes, secrets and second chances!

When her beloved Aunt Colleen passes away, settling her affairs means doing the one thing Hannah Merryweather has spent years avoiding: returning to Micklewick Bay, the seaside town she fled years ago and has never quite found the courage to face again.

Coming home means facing the past too. Polly, her stepmother, and Darryl, her stepbrother, still loom large over the life she once knew, and the home she lost is never far from her thoughts.

Then, on her very first day back, she nearly collides with the one man she never expected to see again: Lachie, the kilted, green-eyed Scotsman who stole her heart last spring. His unexpected arrival in Micklewick Bay is the last complication Hannah needs – especially as feelings she thought she’d locked away start to resurface.

As Hannah slowly uncovers just how far her aunt’s plans for her future stretch – including one life-changing surprise waiting at the end of the pier – can she find the courage to claim the life, and the love, Aunt Colleen always believed she deserved?

Happy Publication Day – 30 September 2026

A Winter’s Trail By Jane Lovering

A final request. A hidden past. A hope for the future.

When Faith loses her beloved father, famous TV historian Richard Macintire, she is baffled to receive a final letter which sends her on an intriguing quest across the freezing Yorkshire moors.

To help solve the puzzle, Faith enlists the help of George, Richard’s mysterious but rather handsome Welsh protégé, her best friend Ivy and Ivy’s chaotic labradoodle, Teasel.

As they set off across Yorkshire, hindered by Teasel’s disastrous antics, they begin to unravel Richard’s clues. What they discover makes Faith reconsider the father she idolised and the happy childhood she’d taken for granted. Because, despite being devoted to Faith, Richard had secrets. And if Faith can get to the bottom of them, with George by her side, then a whole new future could open up to her, and even an unexpected romance…

Happy Publication Day – 29 September 2026

Mistletoe And Rodeo By Janet Dailey

Known for its natural beauty, holiday-themed Noel, North Carolina, isn’t just the country’s second largest producer of Christmas trees, it’s a warm, welcoming community, as one visitor on a challenging journey is about to discover . . .

By the time 25-year-old single mom Nicole Vaughn pulls her RV into Noel she’s at the final stop of a momentous road trip with her daughter, Kyle. Born with a heart defect, 8-year-old Kyle is now in need of a life-saving donor heart. Nicky holds out hope, but she knows the road ahead won’t be easy. Determined to make this Christmas rich and exciting, she’s traversed the U.S. to show Kyle the country’s natural wonders. But now Nicky’s out of money and needs a job. At the Frosted Firs Ranch, she finds much more.

26-year-old bull rider and ranch co-owner, Tucker Reed, left the rodeo circuit to help his widowed brother, Nate, run the business and adjust to single fatherhood. Seven years later, Nate has found love again and will be married on Christmas Eve. Tucker is raring to return to the circuit. . . . Until an enigmatic brunette with a spine of steel enters the picture. Then Tucker’s heart is stolen a second time by Nicky’s brave little girl.

Soon Tucker is visiting the RV daily, dazzling Kyle with rodeo stories. And when he and Nicky share an unexpected kiss, it reveals an undeniable passion. But Nicky is wary, and Tucker, too, wonders if he’s good enough—or capable of supporting Nicky and Kyle through the hardest of times. Yet, love brings risks. As Christmas Eve approaches, can they find the courage to face those risks together?

Mad About You By Heidi Stephens

When an unexpected gift hands her a countryside cottage and a chance to rewrite her story at forty-three. . .

At forty-three, Meg’s life has drifted off course. Living back with her parents, with her career on hold, and making ends meet walking other people’s dogs, her days are quiet, simple – and slowly running out of meaning.

But everything changes when one of her clients dies and inexplicably leaves Meg her beautiful Cotswold house…along with three gloriously unruly dogs, and a note bearing the name of the local vet: Ed.

Ed is kind, intuitive, and frustratingly off-limits. But as Meg steps into a life she never asked for – surrounded by muddy boots, horses, and the weight of someone else’s legacy – she begins to realise this unexpected inheritance might just be the greatest gift of all.

To Trust A Rancher By Alexis Morgan

Can an unexpected homecoming…

Lead to happily-ever-after?

Moving to her hometown gives Brynn Hart a chance to build a stable life for herself and her two young children. The only hitch? Rhys Calland, the handsome soldier-turned-ranch-hand, has her intrigued, despite her reservations. While Lucy and Teddy adore spending time with him, she focuses on her job as business manager for the ranch. Like Brynn, Rhys is divorced and guarding his heart. Unlike Brynn, he’s only passing through Dunbar. When a threat from her past resurfaces, she’s determined to handle things alone. But Rhys failed his ex and can’t stand by without trying to help Brynn. Can she put past mistakes behind her and trust him—and possibly build a future for them all?

Happy Publication Day – 28 September 2026

When Sparks Fly By Portia MacIntosh

It’s not just the leaves that are falling

Moving back home was never part of Lia’s plan. But then again, neither was everything falling apart. Now she’s back in the seaside town she swore she’d outgrown – living with her parents, sleeping in her teenage bedroom, and trying not to think too hard about the life she left behind in London.

At first, it’s exactly as she feared: the same pub, the same people, the same routines. Comfortingly familiar and yet completely suffocating. Until one slightly chaotic night leads to her getting locked in a pub toilet with a handsome stranger. He’s charming, funny, mysterious – and gone before she even learns his name.

In a town this small, he’s bound to turn up eventually – but when he does, Lia realises it’s going to be far more complicated than she thought.

When her past and present start to collide, Lia has a choice: keep chasing the life she thought she wanted, or stay put and see what happens when the sparks start flying.

Happy Publication Day – 25 September 2026

Hard To Get By Kelly Jamieson

He’s playing for keeps. She’s playing hard to get.

I’ve built a life I’m proud of – my own successful business, a beautiful condo, amazing friends, and a spoiled dog named Betty who takes up an entire king-sized bed! My life is exactly the way I want it. I know from experience that I need to keep relationships at a distance. A little fun? Fine. Commitment? Absolutely not.

Then I meet Jayden Wood in the park after our dogs nearly tangle their leashes together. He’s charming and way too attractive for my peace of mind. As a pro hockey player stuck on a struggling team, Jayden already has enough chaos in his life. But then our paths keep crossing. At the coffee shop. In the park. Around the city. Jayden calls it fate.

I swear he’s impossible to get rid of. Now the man who thrives on competition has decided I’m his next challenge—and he’s determined to prove I’m not as hard to get as I pretend to be.