Glimmers of You: a brother's best friend, friends to enemies to lovers romantic suspense

Glimmers of You is the third book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Caden Shaw wasn’t just her brother’s best friend, he was the one Grae needed him the most. That is until he disappeared from their small town. Now he is back with his cocky smirk, with his infuriating nicknames and more handsome than ever before. When a man she causally dated won’t take no for an answer, she desperately involves Caden, pretending that he is her new boyfriend. Caden then suggests they fake being madly in love in order to also get Caden’s scheming father to get off his back. One problem: it is very hard to pretend. She has been in love with him for years, even when she hated him for leaving. There’s no denying the sparks between them. Someone is watching. Someone is not happy that Caden and Grae’s new relationship and will do anything to keep them apart. 

Glimmers of You is a brother’s best friend, friends to enemies to lovers romance. Grae is the only sister in a house of brothers and she grew up being able to defend herself against all antagonists. However, that all changed when she had a medical emergency that changed their dynamic much to Grae’s horror. I loved Grae’s determination to be seen as everything but her illness. I enjoyed seeing more into Caden’s family dynamic as well as the reasons why he left their town in the first place. Their romance was sweet, filled with fun banter and steamy love scenes. The suspense kept me guessing to the very end and the perpetrator was a surprise even though I guessed him before the final reveal but it still surprised me. I enjoyed Grae and Caden’s story and I am looking forward to the last two stories in this series. I highly recommend Glimmers of You. 

Glimmers of You is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Echoes of You: a best friend to lovers with fun banter and intense suspense

Echoes of You is the second book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Nash Hartley has always been everything to Maddie Byrne. Best friends, Protector. Partner in Crime. And the one person who was there in her darkest hour. However, she always wanted more, being unsure if Nash wanted the same, she never acted on her feelings. She left town and moved on, a choice that haunted her. Now, she has moved back to their small town, hoping that she has left her nightmares behind and seeing the only person who made her feel safe. As she tells Nash about the events which led to her return and he promised to do everything to keep her safe. However, her worst nightmare arrives in town, a man who will do everything he is power to keep Maddie or make sure no one else would. 

Echoes of You is a best friend romance with fun banter as well as intense suspense. Maddie is a strong woman who was determined to avoid being a victim again, not realizing that she fell into the very situation she vowed never to be in. In shame, she hid the truth. My heart broke for Maddie as she recounts her experiences and learns to trust Nash and others with her deepest secret. I loved how the Hartleys rallied around her. While readers know the villain who would cause trouble and the wait to see how he would pounce and act was intense. There was another villain lurking in the shadows that surprised me. Overall, this story kept me glued to the pages and I could not put it down. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. I highly recommend Echoes of You. 

Echoes of You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Whispers of You: romantic suspense as two people take a second chance at love and a shadow lurks in the dark

Whispers of You is the first book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. One night, one bullet cost Wren Williams everything. The boy who she thought would be her forever and the life she always dreamt of was gone. Ten years later, Holt Hartley is back in town. But he is no longer the boy she knew about a man who has been running from the shadows and demons who haunt his every step. He says he is here to make things right with her, his family and everyone he left behind. What started as a temporary stop seems to be turning into a permanent move. Despite Wren’s best efforts and determination to avoid Holt, he seems to be there at every turn. She realizes her feelings for Holt are still there and she hopes that the possibility for second chances isn’t going to leave her broken. Deep in the shadows of the small town, someone is not happy Holt is back in town and leaves Wren in the crosshairs.

Catherine Cowles has become my go-to author for romantic suspense. Even though the Lost and Found series is an older series, it still has the Catherine Cowles elements that I expect from her stories. Whispers of You is a great heart-stopping, breath-holding romantic suspense from the opening pages to the closing chapter. The story grips you and will not let you go as you watch Wren and Holt come back together and wonder who in the shadows wants to hurt them both. The villain of the story was not who I expected and the final battle was intense as Holt raced against time to stop them. I also enjoyed the family dynamics between the members of the Hartley clan. The sibling banter is always on point and the deep heart to heart talks were emotional and healing. There were great moments of humor and emotions. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to continue the series. If you enjoy romantic suspense, I highly, highly recommend Whispers of You. 

Whispers of You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Broken Harbor: a hockey player, a single mom with great banter and romance

Broken Harbor is the third book in the Sparrow Falls series by Catherine Cowles. After leaving a dangerous situation involving her ex-husband, Sutton Holland came to Sparrow Falls with her young son and started rebuilding her life. She finds happiness in her business, The Mix Up cafe and seeing her son, happy, healthy and safe. She never thought they would find that safety in Copeland “Cope” Colson, a hockey player. She quickly learns there is so much more to Cope than the dominant hockey player. Sutton is surprised by the gentle way he is concerned for their safety, the playful way he plays with her son, and the way he seems to truly see her. As they spend time together, Sutton finds herself falling for him. Cope and Sutton both have secrets and when their pasts come roaring back, they now must fight for their newfound happiness. 

The Sparrow Falls series is an emotional roller coaster of romance, suspense and the fighting, resilient human spirit. There are a few spicy scenes. The suspense was great and took me by surprise with the reveal. I loved this story! Cope and Sutton are great together. They butted heads with great banter and when they fell, they fell hard. I loved the macho bravado of Cope which hid a very wounded heart and it was Sutton to help him heal. Sutton is a strong woman who wants to stand on her own two feet for her son. Her son is completely adorable and added to the humor in the story. I also loved the Colson family and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it. I highly, highly recommend Broken Harbor. 

Broken Harbor is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Reckless Memories: a friends to lovers romance with angst, forgiveness and suspense

Reckless Memories is the first book in The Wrecked series by Catherine Cowles. Bell Kipton has loved Ford Hardy from afar for a long time. He was her older sister, Violet’s boyfriend but he was her friend and confidante. But a tragic accident tears everything apart. Her sister is gone and Ford leaves Bell behind to pick up the pieces alone. Now, eleven years later, she has created a new life without him. However, now he has come home and every wall and defense she has built comes crumbling down. As they both deal with the past, their guilt and their mutual passion, they fight feelings that they are betraying Violet. However, little do they know, a shadow moves in the dark. Someone who holds them responsible. Someone who wants them both gone. Can they discover who is determined to hurt them both before it’s too late? 

Catherine Cowles is my go-to author for steamy romance with angst, deep emotions and suspense. Reckless Memories is a page-turning slow burn friends to lovers romance that fits that bill. There is plenty of drama and sweet moments between the characters. It is a story of forgiveness, trust and love. I loved Bell and Ford from the very beginning. Their pain and feelings of guilt breaks your heart. They fought the growing feelings between them until there was no denying them any longer. When they finally confessed their feelings, it was heartwarming. Their doubts and worries about appearances felt very authentic. The suspense kept me on my toes and I was shocked when it was revealed who was out to hurt them. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I could not put this book down! And I look forward to the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend Reckless Memories. 

Reckless Memories is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Delicate Escape: a slow burn romance with twist and turns suspsense

Delicate Escape is the second book in the Sparrow Falls series by Catherine Cowles. Thea Stewart is running, when she comes to Sparrow Falls, she finally finds the perfect place to leave peacefully off the grid. Slow to trust, she has made a few friends in town and romance is definitely off the table until she meets Shepard “Shep” Colson. Shep has it all: a successful construction company and a great family along with golden boy charm and devastatingly good looks; however, Thea isn’t going to be taken in by smiles and sweet talk. Shep is drawn to the quiet, reserved Thea and when she needs some home repairs done, Shep jumps at the chance to help. As he is rebuilding the walls in her home, he also slowly breaks through her carefully erected walls. As she learns to trust him, she reveals her secrets and Shep is determined to keep her safe. There is a shadow from her past that is determined to tear her life apart. 

Delicate Escape is a great story with a mix of sweet romance, humorous banter and suspense with breathtaking twists and turns. When Thea was introduced in Fragile Sanctuary, I knew she was hiding and her story would be an emotional roller coaster. I wanted to reach through the book and hug Thea and I waited for her to gather the strength to fight back and protect the life she created in Sparrow Falls. I cheered for her throughout the story. In this story, Shep is dealing with the aftermath of book 1 and the guilt of his inadvertent role in the events. He was also a character I wanted to hug. I loved his character and the love he has for his family and friends was wonderful. I also loved his tenderness with Thea and when their love story was sweet, tender and passionate. Overall, I loved this story and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend Delicate Escape. 

Delicate Escape is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Fragile Sanctuary: an ultimate grumpy-sunshine love story with suspense and hard hitting emotions

Fragile Sanctuary is the first book in the Sparrow Falls series by Catherine Cowles. The scowl Anson Hunt gave the world should have been all the warning Rhodes Stirling needed. Adding in his sexy smirk and the fact that he is her brother’s best friend, she should have stayed far, far away. Now he is the new contractor restoring her house and she runs into him every day. Despite her painful past, Rhodes is determined to be upbeat and positive. Anson is the ultimate grump. He’s rude and enjoys solitude way too much. The man won’t crack despite any of the kindness she shows him. Until, that is, he sees her sunshine demeanor shatter.  After a series of events that seem to target Rhodes herself, Anson is there to keep her safe and a spark between them becomes engulfing flames. But Anson is a man with secrets, secrets that have followed him to Sparrow Falls and threatens them both. Will they discover who is targeting Rhodes? Will they survive? 

Catherine Cowles knows how to deliver a deeply emotional and highly suspenseful story with a great love story. I am still working through her book catalog but I know her story will be a roller coaster of emotions and action. When I heard she was writing a new series, I couldn’t wait to dive. What a story it was! Fragile Sanctuary was the ultimate grumpy-sunshine love story with a great deal of suspense. I loved that Rhodes was determined to have a positive outlook on life. I knew that there was a painful reason for Anson’s hands-off approach. Their romance was filled with witty banter and slow burn to spicy scenes. The suspense was great and the reveal of who was behind everything was a complete shock! I loved the found family aspect and the protectiveness the siblings have for each other. Overall, I loved this story and I am eagerly looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend Fragile Sanctuary. 

Fragile Sanctuary is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tattered Stars: when coming home could be dangerous and yet healing

Tattered Stars is the first book in the Tattered and Torn series by Catherine Cowles. At 11 years old, Everly Kemper took a great risk to get important information to the authorities. It caused her world to come crashing down and she left the town. Now, 16 years later, she’s back to take claim of her inheritance and to rebuild her home and make peace with her family’s past in town. It would be facing him, the boy with the dark eyes, who has haunted her dreams since that night. Hayes Easton is now sheriff and is not happy when he learns that Everly is back in town, fearing what her presence would mean for the town. But when threats are made against her, he steps in to help keep her safe. What they both don’t expect is sparks to fly, they also don’t know that someone is watching and doesn’t like what they see. 

I love Catherine Cowles stories as they are filled with characters with wounds, living with harsh realities and yet find love in even the darkest times. I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug those who were hurting and hurt those who were caused to the hurting. Despite her past, Everly is a strong, independent woman who is determined to stand on her own two feet and is ready to knock down anyone who stands in her way. Hayes is the protector of not just the town but his family as well. He is drawn to Everly despite his best efforts to stay away. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and before I even finished the book, I was looking into the rest of the books of the series and adding them to my wish list. I highly, highly recommend Tattered Stars. 

Tattered Stars is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Beautifully Broken Pieces: a fun and entertaining romance set in Oregon

 

Beautifully Broken Pieces by Catherine Cowles is the first book in the Sutter Lake series. It is the story of Taylor Lawson as she escapes to the remote town of Sutter Lake, Oregon as she grieves the death of her mother. She rents a cabin from the Cole family and soon gains the attention of Walker Cole, the local deputy sheriff. As the attraction between the two is evident from the beginning, their perspective griefs keep them at arm’s length. Walker worries about her safety as there is a rash of missing young girls from the area and Taylor is determined to show that she is fine. But is she fine? Will the abductor come after her? Can Walker keep her safe? When will they finally give in to the growing attraction between them?

Beautifully Broken Pieces is a sweet and enticing story about grief and moving on with one’s life. Some of the language the author uses was very cringey and awkward. I’m not a big fan of slang and some of it used in the story, I feel, didn’t fit the characters. However, I enjoyed the story as I loved the character of Walker and I learned to love Taylor by the end of the story. The revelation of who was abducting these girls and why was shocking and from left field. I look forward to more books in this series. I recommend Beautifully Broken Pieces.

 

Beautifully Broken Pieces is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook