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

The Girl in the Corner: when it's time to step out of the shadows

The Girl in the Corner by Amanda Prowse is a story of one woman’s journey to discover the life she wants but is it the one she already has? Rae-Valentine and Howard were childhood sweethearts. A relationship orchestrated by his loud and vivacious sister, Dolly. They celebrate 25 wonderful years of marriage when Howard drops a bombshell that leaves Rae questioning everything she knows about her husband, their marriage and even about herself. Heartbroken, Rae takes Dolly with her on what should have been a romantic anniversary trip to Antigua. As they drink, dance and talk like old times, Rae realizes that her choices weren’t made by her, they were made for her. Is she really the pushover everything sees her as? As Howard comes looking for a reconciliation, Rae has a choice to make: keep the peace as she always has and is expected to or will she put herself first and rock the boat for the first time in her life? 

Amanda Prowse certainly has a talent to bring a difficult situation to light and make it relatable. The Girl in the Corner is a moving story about one woman’s realization that she has always been there for her family but questions have they really been there for her? Rae has always been the shy, dependable one in her family and when she met Dolly, her polar opposite, in high school, she wanted to be like her. Thirty years later, she is still the quiet, dependable one. When the facade in her life suffers a crack, she questions who am I? I related the most to Rae. The shy, dependable one who stepped in when something needed to be done, usually before someone asked. And like Rae, I too had to learn to stand up and say “no,” although it is still hard sometimes. Overall, I enjoyed Rae and her journey. The supporting characters played their roles well and added to the complexity of the story. I recommend The Girl in the Corner. 

The Girl in the Corner is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.