Book Reviews: Perfect Wreckage

Happy Monday! What is on your calendar for this week? I have a LOT going on: I have an appointment with pain management I'm not thrilled about, the dog needs a hair cut (badly), Olivia starts physical therapy for her knees, and I'm actually participating in an online conference that I'm nervous but excited for. 

Perfect Wreckage - Catherine Cowles

My past taught me to play it safe.

To stay far away from handsome men who promised it all.

My life was good without them. Stable, secure, predictable.

But one kiss showed me that I’d been playing it safe for far too long.

One night, and all I wanted was more of his wildfire.

One challenge and my carefully constructed walls tumbled down.

Amidst the rubble, I realized there was more to this man than I ever dreamed.

When everything fell apart, he showed me what it meant to stay.

How to truly live.

But when my demons return, that life might end up shorter than either of us expected…

You might recognize this author from other reviews I've done both for Reckless Memories and Beautiful Broken Control. I loved both of those so when I saw that Perfect Wreckage was up for review, I absolutely jumped at it. Imagine my squeal when I actually got on the tour and received the book. 

I scared the dog, you guys. 

I am a sucker for a romance with two people who are basically messes but they get better together. Just know going into this that it is going to hook you and you will not put it down. 

In this one we have Kenna, the product of basically a loser mom, but fortunate enough to be taken on by Harriet. In her teen years, her first love is Grant (Harriet's grandson) and he turns out to be an absolute douchebag, and her world is turned upside down. Months later she would be devastated again and it would change the course of her life and close her off. She believes everyone will eventually leave her, so she doesn't let anyone in and she doesn't make plans with people, and she's convinced this is the best way to lead her life. Once Harriet dies (calm down, its not a spoiler, you know she's old and sick almost right away), that puts her into a tailspin. Her housing is in limbo but Grant comes back to town. She clearly has no desire to have anything to do with him but he (and his family) are a threat to the life she has built herself. They promise to make her life hell and she's absolutely positive that everything is going to be ruined because she's the daughter of a town drunk, surely she can't be better than that. 

Enter Crosby. Crosby and Kenna have chemistry and while they've got a little something going on, Crosby is also her lawyer and the one to defend her against Grant and his family. He doesn't know anything about her past and doesn't know why she is the way she is, but he knows he's interested. Well, just for casual fun, he's got his own crappy past and he's certain he isn't down for long term relationships or having a family of his own, but he's not really telling all of the details of why to Kenna either. 

OK, so I'm not going to be able to give you a lot more without ruining some key plot points, but I LOVED THIS BOOK. Catherine Cowles has cemented herself onto my list of favorite authors. I couldn't put this book down, and I loved Crosby so much. My heart broke for Kenna at the beginning and I could understand her need for absolute control, but I will say.... the fact that she wouldn't rely on Bell and Caelyn (her best friends) was confusing to me. Bell and Caelyn have been there for her for YEARS so you'd think that alone would reassure her that they could be trusted and she could let them in.. so that bothered me a bit. Also, she doesn't want people to make assumptions about her based on information they heard, but she's willing to do just that with Crosby, and that hypocritical bit rubbed me wrong. 

I loved Crosby, have I mentioned that?! His persistence on taking Kenna on adventures and trying so hard to help her expand her horizons, but also how he is a rock for her when she needs it. He doesn't question why she needs something, he just is there, he just does. 

*Swoon*

I really loved this book and I have to tell you, I CANNOT WAIT for Caelyn's story in Wrecked Palace, because this trilogy is everything for me. I will read anything Catherine Cowles gives me, that's where I'm at. Absolutely 5 stars, I was legit disappointed when this one was finished. Sadsies. I am so grateful Social Butterfly PR and Catherine Cowles had me on this tour and sent me an ARC for review! I wish I had recorded the dog's response when I squealed and scared him, but there's always next time, right!?