Tag: catherine cowles

Book Review: Reckless Refuge (Wrecked #4) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 326 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: May 11th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There were shadows I was running from.
Ones that haunted and taunted.
Ones that made it so I had no choice but to disappear.

I’d spent years hiding from the world.
My little island haven, the only assurance of safety.

It all changed the moment he showed up at my door.
The hint of pain in his eyes told me that something haunted him, too.
And I couldn’t help but be drawn closer.

But finding the person I needed most came with risks I never expected.
And when our ghosts find us again, neither of us may make it out this time.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

I’m really into this series now and it’s been another good one! I loved the island setting and all the turmoil that found its way to the shore. Brody and Shay were reluctant to be in each other’s circles and I loved watching the walls crumble.

In this case, I did find the twists predictable. It’s pretty simple to follow from the beginning so I wasn’t as surprised when things went down.

Still a great read and I’m excited to finish the series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: parents murdered, PTSD, loss of loved ones, serial killer, panic attacks (on page), assault, psychopathic character

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove #2) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 472 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: July 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s known nothing but darkness for 413 days…but he’ll burn down the world to save her.

After a year in captivity, Nova Monroe is back in Starlight Grove—but she’s not the same woman who vanished. She lives on the edge, chases adrenaline, and refuses to be caged again. Cliff diving. Mountain biking. Anything to feel alive and outrun the memories clawing at her.

But the single dad with shadows of his own won’t let her face it alone. Especially when she finds herself needing a place to stay.

Kol Archer has made it his mission to protect her. As a Forest Service investigator, he’s no stranger to rugged terrain or battling for control. But nothing prepared him for Nova—her fire, her fight, the way she makes him feel something he thought was lost.

The closer they get, the more dangerous things become. Someone doesn’t want Nova to move on. And Kol is determined to stop them—no matter the cost.

Because for the first time in forever, Nova’s not just surviving. She’s learning how to live, how to trust, and reminding Kol he can, too. But as darkness looms, the truth could destroy them both…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for a gifted ALC/eARC.

LOVED.

I just love the way Catherine Cowles combines swoony romance with a suspenseful plot I can never put my finger on. I loved the slow burn between Kol and Nova!!! It’s a journey. Of love and healing and finding a new starting path in life. I loved Nova’s resilience and her courage. She made decisions that were best for her while creating boundaries and strengthening the relationships in her life. I loved that Kol met her where she was and didn’t push. I adore grumpy protective heroes. The soft banter and the way Kol finds ways to take care of Nova were incredibly romantic.

And the mystery plot?? I swore it was at least three other people before the reveal and was still shocked!! I’m in awe every time at how Catherine Cowles continues to deliver new and creative ways of incorporating the whodunnit. This one was delightfully unhinged and actually made me very curious for some future plot points too!!

The audiobook is a STUNNER. CC has gone to a multi-narrator format (each of the main characters has a separate narrator) and I’m OBSESSED. It brings incredible quality to the story. I did about half on audio half eyeball and you can’t go wrong either way.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: serial killer, attempted murder, murder, weapons violence, physical violence, mentions of child abuse

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 498 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He spent a lifetime trying to escape his dark past…but to save her, he’ll wade back into the shadows.

Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove—the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth.

She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.

Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend—silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.

The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.

Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for the gifted ARC/ALC.

WHAT A GEM.

I would first like to acknowledge how incredible it is listening to the audiobook. There’s duet narration AND multi-cast so getting all of the different voices throughout made my day. I bounced back and forth between the ebook and audiobook and you can’t go wrong in format choice.

Now to the story!! I adored Dex and Brae. Dex brought a sharper and darker edge to the book that I don’t remember seeing in previous CC books. I loved it. I loved how protective and stoic he is but at the sight of Brae needing him, he is a GONER. I just love men down bad. I loved the trust and communication and how they both learned to let down wall together.

And getting to meet all of the brothers and seeing hints at their future partners?? STOOOOOP IT RIGHT NOW. We are in for an incredible series, full stop. I loved the different personalities they brought to the group and those text chats were some of my favorite moments.

I love seeing how CC has developed her suspense across the 20+ books I’ve read of hers. This one had me eagle eying so many side characters and shouting I KNEEWWWWWWW IT when the real villain showed up. I love the layers to the plot and how easy it is to get lost in this writing. With that epilogue I am going to need book two ASAP.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: moderate+
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: kidnapping, torture, gun violence, loss of loved ones, grief depiction, mentions of PTSD

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Book Review: Beautifully Broken Redemption (Sutter Lake #5) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 9th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s hiding secrets.

For Anna, keeping her deepest scars hidden from the world has always been a necessity—from the bruises of her childhood to the mistake that nearly cost her everything. To keep herself safe, she must keep everyone around her at a distance—especially the man who has tempted her since the moment they met.

His demons are taunting him.

Mason has done his best to bury the past by achieving more than he ever thought possible. But even with all of his success, his life feels empty.

When tragedy strikes, Anna is left fighting to protect the only family she has left. And Mason will do anything to keep her and her loved ones safe—even if that means the ring of wedding bells.

But as a new spark ignites between them, someone is watching.

And they’ll do whatever it takes to snuff out that light for good.

GREAT CONCLUSION.

My Catherine Cowles back list quest continues and I loved this ending. Nobody told me this was marriage of convenience and y’all know how much I love that trope!!! I loved Anna and Mason together. Just another protective, sunshine hero who had me in a chokehold.

I do think this book was trying to do a few too many things. There were a LOT of plot points and if it had been dialed back, more moments would have stood out better.

But, I love this found family and small town. I loved all of the suspense and romance. It’s such a great series and I loved getting the epilogue of seeing everyone!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: child abuse, suicide, murder

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