ARC/ALC Book Review: Secret Haven (Sparrow Falls #6) by Catherine Cowles

October 21, 2025October 9, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 470 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first time I met Kyler Blackwood, he was a bruised and battered boy with fire in his eyes and nowhere safe to land.

Since the first time he kissed me, he was my best-kept secret, my quiet rebellion, my haven in the storm.

But fate forced us apart, making us pretend to be strangers because it hurt too much to be anything else.

Years later, time hasn’t dulled what we felt, has never erased the way we fit. And when Kye’s past collides with my present, everything shifts.

It’s a choice neither of us expected.
A bond that never really broke.
A line we were never meant to cross.

We tell ourselves it’s only temporary, that the arrangement is just a means to an end. But with each passing day, the lie feels more like the truth. And with each stolen touch, Kye feels more like mine. Because some things were never meant to be pretend.

And some dangers are closer than we ever imagined…

Thank you to the author for a gifted ARC and audiobook.

CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING?

Y’all KNOWWW I have been waiting to get my hands on this book and I went absolutely feral when the ARC copy surprised my doorstep one day. Did I then inhale the book? YES AND IT WAS WORTH IT. My highlighters appreciated dragging across the page over and over again because every moment was memorable.

Kye and Fallon have one of the deepest soulmate level bonds I’ve read in a contemporary romance. They scream WE BELONG TOGETHER and when they finally got a moment to try a true relationship between them??? STOP IT. IT WAS EVERYTHING. All of these soft moments over and over that kept showing the 1000+ ways they have loved each other for yeeeeears. I am a puddle.

And we already know how much I love this family and the group chats will be sorely missed. I love the tight connections and the way everyone looks after each other. There were some beautiful moments woven in that made this book sing all the more.

THE SUSPENSE THOUGH. I was so focused on Kyler and Fallon I did not clock the bad person in any way shape or form. I do not recommend reading in the dark in the middle of the night when the reveal happens because you might need to turn the lights on. BECAUSE WHAT.

Gosh. I’m sad this is over but it was worth every minute spent in Sparrow Falls.

Overall audience notes:

Romantic suspense
Language: strong
Romance: 4ish open door
Violence: high
Content warnings: child abuse, attempted murder, weapons violence, murder, kidnapping

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Book Review: Beautifully Broken Spirit (Sutter Lake #3) by Catherine Cowles

August 4, 2025July 5, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 22nd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s always been his safe place to land.

Jensen has shared a special bond with Tuck for as long as she can remember, their friendship a language that never needed words. But as life threw her one curveball after another, that secret language turned to stony silence.

He’s always been her protector.

Tuck has looked out for Jensen since the day she was born. As his best friend’s little sister, he’s tried to keep her firmly in the friend category. But she’s always been more.

All it takes is one moment of weakness to send Tuck’s fiercely guarded walls crumbling to the ground. As a new fire burns between them, someone watches. Someone who doesn’t like the new life Jensen’s building for herself.

And they’ll stop at nothing to keep her in the dark.

ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

My quest to finish Catherine Cowles backlist continues with this gem! I liked this book a lot. It was another one I could binge in a day and I loved diving back into this world. I loved all of the horse content, the small town vibes, and all of these characters.

The one little thing I struggled with was the MMC calling martyr on their relationship. It’s one of my least favorite ways to handle a third act.

I did like the suspense of this one and watching Jensen continually battle back through tough circumstances. I loved the single mom and childhood friends to lovers tropes. It was executed so well. Lots of swoon and romantic tension. I’m excited to continue this series!

Overall audience notes:

Romantic Suspense
Language: moderate
Romance: 3 open door
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: murder of animals, attempted murder, near death experiences, gun violence, kidnapping, extortion

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5) by Catherine Cowles

July 22, 2025July 13, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 418 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The Pagesmith LLC
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I came here seeking sanctuary, I never meant to fall for the broody single dad next door.

I’ve spent my life hiding in plain sight, burying my past beneath layers of carefully constructed lies. Moving to Sparrow Falls was supposed to be a fresh start. A place to lay low. But when I end up living next door to the single dad who just happens to be one of my brother’s best friends, everything changes.

Trace Colson sees too much, asks too many questions, and his protectiveness is as infuriating as it is alluring.

And when danger comes calling, it’s Trace who stands between me and the darkness.

But being close to him is its own kind of risk. Because with every heated glance and every stolen touch, Trace tempts me to open my heart, to dream of a life I’d long since given up on. The only problem? Trace has his own demons, and when they collide with mine, the fallout could destroy us both.

Forever.

Thank you to the author for a gifted ARC.

WHAT A STUNNER.

Ooooh this one was so fun y’all. The banter was off the charts between Ellie and Trace. I LOVED IT. It was heated and fun and really showed another side to Trace that we haven’t gotten to see yet. Add in sweet Keely and it was a beautifully blended family. The larger Colson family was heavily present in this one too through my favorite group chats and get togethers. I love this found family so dang much.

AND as per usual, the reveals are always a surprise. I liked that in Chasing Shelter you could see the obvious ones but the hidden made you shriek. It was intense and reminds me every dang time why I love CC’s suspense.

I also just adored Trace and Ellie on their own. I loved the growth they went through, finding the true meaning of chasing shelter and building something lasting together. I loved this pair and y’all better know I am FERAL for the next book.

Overall audience notes:

Romantic Suspense
Language: moderate
Romance: 3-4ish open door
Violence: moderate – high
Content warnings: murder, weapons violence, kidnapping, domestic abuse, attempted murder

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Book Review: Even if It Hurt (Huntley Square #1) by Molly Barlowe

July 3, 2025May 13, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 350 pages
Author: Molly Barlowe
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My life and career have conditioned me to be prepared for—and desensitized to—traumatic events. Rather, they should’ve. But one phone call blindsided me in a way I never expected, and now there’s a screaming eight-month-old in my custody.

I would’ve done anything to ensure my niece didn’t enter the system, but I never wanted a family. I never wanted ties to anyone, period.

But then my meddling office administrator forcibly hires a nanny for me, and all my resolute vows start crumbling when I come face to face with Lainey Pearson . . . again.

She’s no one—should be no one. Just an oblivious girl I saved nearly a year ago. But she’s the only one who’s ever rocked me. Consumed me. I immediately want to fire her, but with the social worker breathing down my neck, I need her.

Then again, now that she’s fallen back into my life, having a working boundary might be for the best. My life doesn’t allow for relationships, and last I checked, it was frowned upon to date your employees.

Especially when they’re already in a relationship.

I LIKED THIS ONE!

I love finding new to me authors and this is another one I will definitely be continuing with. I didn’t know that this had some suspense elements and I loved finding a closed door author who writes suspense. It’s a hidden gem.

I loved the connection between Asher and Lainey. From that first meeting you could see that there was something there and I loved the push and pull. There’s a lot of walls that had to be taken down and I liked the arguments and quiet moments that created a great atmosphere.

The family bugged me a LOT though. It got to be repetitive and unnecessary and really beating the situation to death. And I always struggle when one of the MC’s is in a relationship most of the book. It makes some of the romance aspects a little less believable.

I did enjoy how things came together and eventually worked out. I loved the security firm aspects and the details and the hints of found family/future book relationships. I absolutely want to continue.

Overall audience notes: