Tag: catherine cowles

ARC Book Review: Whispers of You (The Lost & Found #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 334 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: January 31st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One night—a single bullet—cost me everything.

My body, broken beyond repair. The boy I’d thought was my forever. The life I’d always dreamt of.

Now, Holt’s back. And he’s no longer a boy, but a man with shadows in his eyes and demons haunting him.

He says he’s here to make things right. To get back a little bit of all we’ve lost. And he doesn’t show any signs of leaving the small town that has been my refuge.

As stolen moments turn to days, Holt’s around every corner. With his burning stare and lingering touches. Before long, my walls come crashing down and I’m just hoping that taking this second chance isn’t as reckless as it feels.

But not everyone is happy that Holt has returned. As tragedy strikes again, I’m the one left in the crosshairs. And Holt might not be able to save me this time…

Thank you to the author for an ARC and ALC.

SO GOOD.

Audiobook review: I was fortunate to receive an audio copy as well and I loved it!! The narrators did a fantastic job and there was a seamless speed between the dual POV.

Wow does this book start off with the dark notes. I was captured from the prologue and excited to dive into this romance. The tension and angst were perfectly applied to this second chance romance between Holt and Wren.

I adored both of these characters. I liked that I felt everything from frustration about decisions to joy at confessions. A great spectrum of character growth and hope in a brighter future. I felt the love between them from the beginning and that both could not let the other go. I anxiously awaited the moment when they crashed together and found the solace they had been after for 10 years.

And the suspense?? Oh my goodness. Generally, I’m pretty good at figuring out who the bad guy is, and while I had an inkling I was still SHOCKED when they walked on page as the true antagonist. The best kind of drama.

This book just had it all. Plenty of alpha protectiveness, strong FMC, gripping page turner and more. I am already next level excited for Nash’s story next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: three brief open; medium explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple acts of gun violence, kidnapping, grief, trauma

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Book Review: Shattered Sea (Tattered & Torn #4) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 316 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: September 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I’ve known every kind of pain. Of the heart. Of the body. Of the soul. All I want now is the freedom that comes from making my art.

The last thing I expected was Hollywood royalty to waltz into my gallery in a small town in the middle of nowhere and see me.

A man like Boden Cavanaugh shouldn’t understand me. Shouldn’t be able to soothe my most ragged edges. Even worse, he makes me want the one thing I can’t have. Him.

All it takes is one spark, and friendship catches flame. But as our attraction burns bright, there are forces desperate to send us back into the darkness. And they’ve already killed before.

LOVED.

Catherine Cowles owns me when it comes to romantic suspense. The way I binge read this would astound some, I could NOT put it down.

I loooove these characters. And that the love interest was new and got added into the mix. Boden was so dang sweet and I am always here for a protective hero and yet never forces Laiken into any sort of a box. I love watching two people get to be.

The plot got intense?! I naively thought I had everything nailed down and didn’t see the blindside. The darkness leaking out from Wolf Gap was palpable and seeing these friends and family come together to help one of their own is my favorite.

It was a touch too insta-y love for me. Luckily Laiken and Boden’s relationship grew on me and I found myself begging the pages to turn quicker so we could get to their HEA.

Another great read, READY FOR THE NEXT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some
  • Romance: 2 brief open; medium explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, physical violence, loss of loved one from a car wreck, depictions of grief and depression, loss of a loved one from drug overdose

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Book Review: Tattered Stars (Tattered & Torn #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: PageSmith LLC
Release Date: February 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Be brave. Just for sixty seconds. Twenty breaths.

It took every ounce of my courage to return to the small town I fled all those years ago. But I should’ve known he’d hate me. How could he not when my father’s blood still runs through my veins?

Yet here I am, desperate for a chance to make things right. Even if it means facing the family my father almost destroyed and the boy with the dark eyes—now grown—who still haunts my dreams.

I never expected just how explosive things would turn between us. He’s the last person I should want. Yet, somehow, I keep drawing closer—so close I know I’ll end up burned.

But Hayes is a good man, a noble one. Someone who channeled his pain into a career spent protecting those around him. So, when the threats begin, he steps in to keep me safe. And we discover that maybe neither of us knew the other at all.

As the sparks between us ignite into something deeper, someone watches. And they’ll do anything to tear it all apart.

I’M HOOKED.

Oh wow. This book took over my entire day and I would like to thank it for that. It’s been a bit dramatic, but y’all. TRUST ME. Lean into the drama of this small town romance with a great dash of suspense and let it woo you like it did me.

I adored this romance. The dynamic is perfectly plotted. A small dash of enemies to lovers with character growth and communication for days. Hayes and Everly were so dang sweet on each other that you couldn’t help but cheer them on.

The family dynamics are loving and complicated. I like this whole group so much and look forward to the future relationships that are sprouting from this book.

The suspense portion had me in alllll the feels. I was anxious to know what would happen next and surprised by the final details. Even when I think I have it nailed there’s always a bit more that weaves it’s way out.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: three brief open door
  • Violence: med/high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: a father with mental health issues, kidnapping, PTSD, domestic abuse (recounted), assault, gun violence

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Book Review: Reckless Memories (Wrecked #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 330 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: May 12th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I loved him before I knew what the word meant.
From skinned knees to first dates and everything in between.
But he was never mine to love.
I settled for friendship, even though I always wanted more.

That was before.
Before he ripped my world apart and didn’t bother sticking around to help me pick up the pieces.
I knit every last shred back together all on my own.
And I’ve all but forgotten his name.

Now, he’s back, and everything is torn apart once more.
But he’s not the only one doing the tearing this time.
And there might be no stopping the person who has it out for us both.

THE SUSPENSE.

This was a pretty good read! A new small town romance series to me. It’s set on an island in the Pacific Northwest so if you’re looking for small town, but not on a ranch, this might be for you!!

I didn’t know how I would feel about the relationship based off of the first few chapters. Over the book I felt there was a nice progression with some necessary conversations to help ease the transition. There’s a lot of talk about processing grief and the non-linear format it resides in.

Bell and Ford were definitely a match for me. I’m soft for a protective love interest and For was that for me. I liked the heat between them and the slow burn romance. I enjoyed the side characters that I know we’ll see in future books so I’m excited for their stories as well.

The suspense aspect was a bit…odd? Out of place? I don’t know why it necessarily needed to be there. I will say it did keep me on my toes, and I didn’t guess who it was going to be until just a few pages before (but I think that’s because I thought they were a random choice……). ANYWAYS. It’s well written, a bit darker, but also full of a lot of hope and light for the future.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses to brief open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: car wreck resulting is loss of life, losing a sibling, stalking behavior, break-in and physical altercations, attempted murder, parental neglect

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