A story that brings to light the practice of polygamy. Even though prohibited there are still remote areas in America that practice it. This is a story of Hope and how she escaped the cult as I would call it. She did pay a heavy price for her freedom and gave up her child at the age of 17 with hopes that the child would never be a victim of the brotherhood and will lead a good life. Now 10 years later she is at the point of her life that if she can she will save her sisters from that life if they so desire. Only Faith is brave enough to escape with Hope, she is heavy with child and it brings back memories that never left Hope for the child she had to give up for adoption. Threaten by Faith’s husband they hope to vanish to the place that took Hope in when she was pregnant. And maybe seeing the child she lost.
A very gripping story even though was written years ago there are still sects of polygamists today. The narrator was good, but Faith voice seemed way too young. I want to thank #NetGallery for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #Sanctuary

Hope unfortunately was brought up in a polygamous community in Utah. While a teen, she falls in love and gets pregnant by a man that she is not allowed to have. She runs away and gives her baby up for adoption. Fast forward, she returns to the area that she had run to all those years before.

I really enjoyed this audiobook!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hope and Faith are sisters from a polygamist community. Hope gave up her son (thinking the child was a girl) years ago. She gave birth at a clinic where the midwife cared a lot about her. When her pregnant sister needs her, Hope takes Faith back to the same clinic. The father of Faith’s baby is after the two of them. Hope gets a job at the clinic and gets to know Parker Reynolds as an adult instead of the eighteen year old she’d been when she first met him. Except Parker has a secret that could definitely affect how Hope feels about him.

Brenda Novak was just born to write stories! It didn’t matter that this book was older. This story pulled me in and didn’t let me go until the end. It completely tugged at my heartstrings!! The emotional aspect was deep and thought provoking. The writing was fantastic. The author did a great job with her research. The conflict had me at the edge of my ear buds. I highly recommend this audiobook! I thought the narrator did a great job of bringing this story to life! Sanctuary was provided by NetGalley and Harlequin audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was previously published in paperback by Harlequin, Super Romance.. so I don’t think any information that I have on plot will change it. I liked the story. It was very different from the previous Harlequin super romances that I read in the past. It delivered everything I was expecting.. I did like the sub plot of her family.

Sanctuary by Brenda Novak did not disappoint!
A powerful and well-crafted romance.
This was a wonderfully written romance story.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet and heartwarming read!

The whole time I was reading this book I kept saying to myself....wow this feels dated. Then I came to write my review and see that this is a re-release of Sanctuary which originally published in 2003. I am not sure what is going on in my brain recently, but I feel like I read the summaries of what books are about and they end up not really about that. Maybe is it wishful thinking?
I was expecting the book to focus on Hope's search and discovery of the child she gave up years prior to escaping her polygmous cult life, instead the main plot was how she helps her sister Faith escape her similar situation (17 and pregnant by her uncle/husband)-Gross.
Despite the uncomfortable situation, I am not a fan of cults, I thought Novak told a good story. Faith was incredibly naive (expected I guess). I would have really enjoyed more of the "tail end" of the book, without giving spoilers, but let's just say I wanted more of a ribbon and bow on Hope's story, to be flushed out. I was excited to be granted this Advanced Copy of Sanctuary, by Net Galley, I was not influenced or paid for this review, and I will for sure add her to my list of authors to read.

This was an earlier Brenda Novak book that has been released on audiobook. It was a great story with a good narrator. I listened to this book in a day as it kept my interest from start to finish. It was not a long audiobook but certainly an enjoyable one.

Thank you netgalley for the audiobook.
This was a different kind of book than what Brenda usually writes. It's an older one but I still enjoyed it.
It's the second in the series but I didn't feel I missed out on too much not have read the first.
Hope gave birth to a baby 10 years ago but gave her up. Hope gets her pregnant sister away from their family as it's a bad situation. A polygamy cult.
In getting her out of there her husband is angry and is trying to get her back so they end up going to New Mexico where hope had given birth and given her baby up. She starts to question more about where her baby went.
I really enjoyed this book but I do love all of Brenda's books.

I went into this book expecting a different theme because of how it was categorized on NetGalley, but I decided to give it a chance anyway. It turned out to be a very different read than I anticipated—emotional, a little heartbreaking, and at times difficult to process. The part about the main character giving birth without ever knowing her baby really stuck with me; it was tragic and set the tone for much of the story.

As the book progressed, I followed her journey back to the Sanctuary with her sister, and it was interesting to see how she tried to rebuild her life there, even finding a job. There were a lot of emotional layers to this story, and while I didn’t always agree with certain aspects—especially the polygamy element—I kept reading to see where it would go. By the end, I was relieved with how things turned out. It wasn’t quite the book I expected, but it still had some compelling moments that kept me engaged.

Sanctuary by Brenda Novak is a powerful, well-crafted romance that weaves together themes of love, redemption, and the dark side of polygamy. The story centers on Hope, a determined and resilient heroine, and Parker, a man with a secret so devastating it could shatter their growing connection. The way Novak reconciles the deep rift between them is nothing short of remarkable.

From the beginning, Parker’s behavior is both intriguing and frustrating. He’s clearly drawn to Hope, but his hostility and avoidance leave her—and the reader—questioning his true feelings and his past. The mystery surrounding the little girl Hope gave up for adoption only deepens the tension and emotional stakes.

The story also delves into the sinister side of polygamy, depicting it as a tool for abuse and control, much like the news stories we’ve all heard about the worst cases. The villain in this book is chillingly evil, and Novak doesn’t shy away from showing the harm such manipulative figures can cause in the name of faith. It’s a stark contrast to the more sanitized portrayals of polygamy seen in pop culture, making the story feel raw and authentic.

What truly shines is the strength of the characters. Hope and her sister Faith are admirable for their resilience and refusal to let their painful past define them. They embody hope and determination, seeking love and family despite their struggles. Even Parker and Lydia, who wrestle with guilt over their past choices, are deeply human and relatable.

The unique plot, emotional depth, and brisk pacing make Sanctuary a true page-turner. It’s a romance with heart, substance, and a compelling storyline that feels both fresh and grounded in real-life struggles. For readers who love a love story with layers of complexity and suspense, this one is a must-read. Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

A re-release of an older story, the second in a series. Interesting enough story for someone who is a fan of TLC’s Sisterwives. Unsure why it was categorized as erotica as there was no intimacy until 94% into the story and it was brief, this was really not a romance novel. Overall, an interesting depiction of escaping polygamy—an unfathomable topic we’re still dealing with in todays society…this was more true crime adjacent/women’s fiction than romance.

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook being re-released this month. The main female character Hope Tanner escaped her polygamous community when she refuses to be wed to her uncle. After 10 years returns to the village to try to rescue /protect her younger sister. They return to Enchantment when she went 10 years prior to have her baby. A sad but well told story with two storylines running parallel - both storylines had holes but an overall good read. I enjoyed most of the narration but the younger sister’s voice was innocence to the extreme.