Tag: romantic suspense

Book Review: Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 300 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: February 25th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman who’s lost everything.

Taylor is looking for peace and quiet away from the memories of all she’s lost. A small mountain town where no one knows her seems like the perfect escape.

A man battling the ghosts of his past.

Walker loves his life just the way it is. His town, his family, his brothers in blue. Everything simple and easy—until a chance encounter changes it all.

When Taylor’s solitude is interrupted by the rugged cop, they find that the very thing they were avoiding might be just what they both need. As their iron wills clash and passion flares…a killer lurks.

And you never know who might be caught in the crosshairs.

HERE WE GO.

I have loved Cowles most recent two series and wanted to dive back into some backlist series of hers too. This is one of her oldest ones and it has all of the same vibes of why I enjoy all of her books. I love that they have this formulaic vibe that I highly appreciate but with enough small twists that I feel always slightly shocked by the last 20%.

Taylor and Walker grew on me. I will say I didn’t feel as connected to them as I hoped but what can I say? I love a hot cop. Taylor was intensely stubborn about every single thing which got a bit dry, and I’m glad it’s a short book so it was remedied eventually.

The reveals at the end surprised me because I definitely had my eye on multiple other characters who I thought were causing the murders. I love the suspense elements and the found family happening and can’t wait to continue!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, serial killer, obsession, kidnapping, loss of a mother, loss of loved ones

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ALC Book Review: Icon and Inferno (Stars and Smoke #2) by Marie Lu

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Romantic Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Roaring Books Press
Release Date: June 11th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Spies meet romance meet popstars in this thrilling follow up to Stars and Smoke by bestselling author Marie Lu.

A year has passed since superstar Winter and secret agent Sydney Cossette went undercover – on a dangerous mission to bring down the baddest man in London.

Winter hasn’t stopped thinking about Sydney since, and she’s been trying not to think about him.

Family secrets and nasty newspapers has Winter desperate to re-enter the secret world. And it’s not long before he gets his chance.

Sydney is back, and this time the mission goes right to the heart of the United States of America. A rescue gone wrong, an assassination attempt – and the return of an old flame – puts Winter right back into the action . . . and into a country on the brink of chaos.

And when a murder accusation has Sydney on the run, suddenly it’s not just a life at stake, but all-out war.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

ALL THE ACTION.

Audiobook notes: I loved the audiobook. No complaints here! I think it honestly helped me enjoy the book more after digitally reading Stars and Smoke.

I think managed expectations from my thoughts on book one helped me here. I wasn’t as focused on the romance, even though I do think it played a bigger role in this book. I love the push and pull between Winter and Sydney. Mixed with a pop stars world, dangerous agents and explosive action and this made for a fun an entertaining story.

The twists were a little predictable, but not something that took anything away for me. I loved how intense many moments felt and wondering who was going to survive. I thought it ended at a logical and good conclusion. I would read another book in this world if one’s coming.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Romantic Suspense
  • Language: low
  • Romance: one vague-ish open door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content Warnings: loss of life, gun violence, explosions

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Book Review: Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

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Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5)
Audience: Contemporary Mystery Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Never stop…Never forget…Just remember.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Starts with Us joins forces with the New York Times bestselling author of The Wives. Together, they have created a gripping, twisty, romantic mystery unlike any other.

Charlie Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They’ve been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning…they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love…every memory has vanished. Now Charlie and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why.

But the more they learn about the couple they used to be…the more they question why they were ever together to begin with. Forgetting is terrifying, but remembering may be worse.

HMM.

This is a book broken into three parts that makes me review feel like three parts.

I really enjoyed part one. It was interesting. I liked the suspense and the drama of it all. I felt on board with Charlie and Silas’s story and was very dang curious about what had happened. Since this wasn’t a sci-fi or fantasy novel what magical realism was playing a part?!

Part two started to slow things down and was a bit repetitive. We know they’ve lost a lot of their memory and things are a bit up and down. There’s some good romantic moments looking at journals and memories I enjoyed.

Then part three brought it all together, but still left me feeling unsatisfied. I wasn’t quite on board with the big reveal of what happened and why. I think it was supposed to make me feel uber romantic, and it did to a point, but I think I was expected more drama as well. There were some story lines that I didn’t find wrapped up well and now that I’m sitting here I’m poking more and more holes into the book.

Oh well, another book off my CoHo back list!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romantic Suspense
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: memory loss, amnesia, kidnapping, incarcerated father, gaslighting parent

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ARC Book Review: Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 366 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: May 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The scowl should’ve been my first clue to stay far away from Anson Hunt. The sexy smirk and the fact that he’s my brother’s best friend? Reasons two and three. Not to mention, he’s the new contractor working on my house.

He’s everything I’m not: grumpy, rude, and more than a little attached to his solitude. It doesn’t matter how many times I try to kill him with kindness; the man simply won’t crack.

Until he sees me shatter.

Because when my world comes crashing down around me, Anson is the one catching me as I fall. And as so-called accidents start plaguing every part of my life, it’s Anson who steps in to keep me safe.

As he does, I can’t help but feel a flicker of heat. And it only takes a single moment for that spark to ignite into flames, engulfing us both.

But Anson’s a man with secrets, and they have a price. When they’re revealed, neither of us will make it out unscathed…

Thank you to Catherine Cowles for my ARC!!

MY NEW OBSESSION.

I love the start of something new and this was an amazing starting point for the Sparrow Falls series. I was in love with Rhodes and Anson from the get-go and especially the way Anson used Rhodes nickname. I LOVE NICKNAMES.

And the plot was an enigma. I kept looking one way then the other trying to solve the case. Then I found myself up way too late because I NEEDED answers and the answers blind sided me in all the best ways. I love the way Cowles crafts the suspense aspects. It gives that look over your shoulder atmosphere, but mixed with all the heat of a couple falling in love.

I loved watching Rhodes and Anson break down walls and let each other in. The way they connected over the big and small things and every time Anson brought out his protective side. I was a swoony, puddle, tabbing all the moments kind of feral devouring this book.

I LOVE this family and am beyond excited to see the future stories in this small town.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Content Warnings: serial k!ller, gun violence, near death experiences, car accident, loss of family, arson

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