Book Review: Beautifully Broken Redemption

Has Christmas taken over your life yet? Because it has for me and I'm just... plugging right along. I think my office tree might go up today because I want to get the spirit of it now. We might be traveling for Christmas Day and I don't know why, but that makes me not want to put in any effort on other trees, isn't that sad? Ugh. Maybe it's just my mood in general. 

Beautifully Broken Redemption 

Catherine Cowles

She’s hiding secrets.

For Anna, keeping her deepest scars hidden from the world has always been a necessity—from the bruises of her childhood to the mistake that nearly cost her everything. To keep herself safe, she must keep everyone around her at a distance—especially the man who has tempted her since the moment they met.

His demons are taunting him.

Mason has done his best to bury the past by achieving more than he ever thought possible. But even with all of his success, his life feels empty.

When tragedy strikes, Anna is left fighting to protect the only family she has left. And Mason will do anything to keep her and her loved ones safe—even if that means the ring of wedding bells.

But as a new spark ignites between them, someone is watching.

And they’ll do whatever it takes to snuff out that light for good.

Catherine Cowles is an auto-buy author for me. Anytime I see anything by her, it's an automatically click because everything she has written has been so great for me, and this one is no different. Secondly, I am LOVING her Sutter Lake series, I feel like now I really need to buy the physical copies of all of these because I just love them that much. Not to mention that fake relationship tropes are one of my favorites and this was just all of my favorites rolled into a book and I loved it. 

Interestingly, this book begins with Anna being released from prison and I honestly can't say I've read a book where the woman is a convict, but I'm here for it because anything that sets any book apart from everything else on the shelves already is great in my book. She unexpectedly becomes the caregiver for her niece and nephew, but her sketchy past puts legal custody in jeopardy so she does what any normal person would do, marry her co-worker. 

I mean, hasn't that come across all of our minds? 

Interestingly, Mason has always had a spot reserved for Anna in his heart but for lots of dumb ass reasons, she has put him firmly into the friend zone. Well, you know what happens when you fake marry a person, eventually you catch feelings but Anna is absolutely convinced that when it's time, Mason is going to high tail it out of there like literally every person in her life. She's had too much happen in her life and too much is at stake so she's trying to hold out. 

I really loved Mason. He's just that steady but great guy that hangs in the background hoping that the one he wants really takes notice of him. He's just solidly good. As with all of the books in this series, we have a reluctant romance but we also have an element of danger, mixed in with an actual real world problem so many are dealing with. I like how the author can seemlessly blend all of those together and still give us a quality story you'll find yourself flying through. I love that these characters pop up in the previous books so if you read those, you'll have seen more of their personality, at least parts that aren't really shown here, but this book can absolutely be a stand alone. 

The only thing I wish we had more of is Anna and Mason's working relationship/friendship before all of this. We do get some, but not really enough that would make you think them getting married would totally work. I mean, I've made friends at work, I even dated one, but I've literally never had one I'd really go out of my way to help out like that or anywhere near it. I feel like we would have understand why Mason's feelings were the way they were more. 

If you're looking for a series to sink into, consider this one. If you just need an easy, quick read to pull yourself out of a slump, definitely pick this one up. 

Thank you to Catherine Cowles and Social Butterfly PR for having me on this tour! 

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Book Review: Wrecked Palace

I am such a fan of Catherine Cowles and I think I have been on the last three or four tours of hers and I don't even look to see what the book is about before I sign up, I just know I'm going to love it. 

Wrecked Palace - Catherine Cowles

One night was all it took for everything to change.

From college student to guardian in a single breath.

My siblings became my world.

No time for date nights or romantic dreams.

I traded quiet weekends for sleepless nights.

Giving my all to make sure they were cared for.

But Griffin had a brokenness that called to me—one that mirrored my own.

Gruff and just a little bit reckless.

He was the last thing I needed. But everything I wanted.

Only someone isn’t happy about this new life I’m building.

Deciding to set fire to everything I hold close.

And when the smoke clears, there might be only ashes left behind…

Have you ever started a book and knew instantly that it was going to wreck you and make you cry? Yeah well, that happens almost every time I read something from Catherine Cowles and that's what happened here. It turns out I am a sucker for books where a main character suddenly becomes a parent to siblings. I am also a sucker for broken guys and LUCKY US, this book has it all in spades. 

WRECKED PALACE features Caelyn, who we met in RECKLESS MEMORIES, and Griffin, who is the moodiest grump in all the land and I love it. I love a moody grump because you know under all of it there is someone who would absolutely love and cherish you to the death, it just takes a long time to get it out. While this is definitely a slow burn romance, it is worth the journey because the end is everything. 

Also prominently featured in the book are the siblings: Mia, Ava, and Will, who were so great and I really loved them. The story line of Caelyn basically giving up all of her life plans to take care of them is so great and the author does a fabulous job making you sympathetic towards Caelyn but also glad that she was willing and able because these kids are so great and you hate to think of the what if. Also? There are SO MANY one liners in this book that made me swoon, tear up, and want to squeeze Griffin. Both Caelyn and Griffin are dealing with different kinds of grief that brings them closer, but you guys, this book will break you. I mean, it gets better, but just know going in it will wreck you.   

I very highly recommend this one, and if you haven't read anything else by Catherine Cowles, get on it. For real. She is one of my go-to authors and I have never been disappointed. While this is book three in the Wrecked Series, it is a stand alone so you are totally OK to read out of order. Thank you to Social Butterfly PR for once again having me on her tour, I am so grateful. 

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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!? 

Book Review: Reckless Memories

It took a few weeks but I'm back on the reading wagon. It helps to have had so many great books come for review and I'm not hating it. Like this one!

Reckless Memories - Catherine Cowles

I loved him before I knew what the word meant.

From skinned knees to first dates and everything in between.

But he was never mine to love.

I settled for friendship, even though I always wanted more.

That was before.

Before he ripped my world apart and didn’t bother sticking around to help me pick up the pieces.

I knit every last shred back together all on my own.

And I’ve all but forgotten his name.

Now, he’s back, and everything is torn apart once more.

But he’s not the only one doing the tearing this time.

And there might be no stopping the person who has it out for us both.

If the author's name sounds familiar, it might because I recently read and reviewed another book of hers, Beautifully Broken Control, and I really liked that one. I do believe I have another one in that series that I'm hoping to get to soon. In the meantime though, I had this one. It's the first in what I believe is a trilogy called Wrecked, and I cannot wait to read the other ones and that tells you  how good this one was for me.

In this book we have Isabelle and Ford. Ford was a first love to Violet, Isabelle's older sister. Of course, Isabelle is in love with him but he is strictly off limits. After a tragic accident, Ford leaves and Isabelle is left to deal with her grief without her sister and without Ford. Her parents are the absolute worst.

Years go by and she goes by Bell now, she's made something of herself and made her own family with her best friends and Ford's family, who have adopted her as one of their own. For a variety of reasons, Ford finds himself back in his hometown and neither him or Bell realize they'll be working together. Closely.

Over the course of weeks it becomes clear that those old feelings didn't go anywhere for either of them, not that they are admitting it to each other. Bell feels like she's betraying Violet but also its a small town so the gossip mill is in full force. Before they can even get into any of that, someone in town is angry that Ford is back but also that Ford and Bell are rekindling their friendship or more. Threats of violence escalate into actual violence and they are trying to solve the crimes before someone gets more seriously hurt.

I absolutely loved this book and I really liked Ford and Bell separately, but also together. I didn't guess right on who the culprit was but that was totally fine because it was a fun journey to get there. I am so excited for the next two books, I'm pretty sure who the couples are going to be and you will too once you read this one! I am becoming a huge fan of Catherine Cowles because this is now the second book of hers I've really enjoyed so I'm eager to read more from her!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Catherine Cowles and Social Butterfly PR for having me on this tour and sending me an ARC!

This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Beautiful Broken Control

I really don't love reading on my iPad because my eyes have a harder time getting information to my brain since my stroke (which this can't possibly make sense to you unless you were in this boat) but it helps when I get books I can finish in one sitting. Even if it is in the middle of the night.

Beautiful Broken Control - Catherine Cowles

A woman trying to rebuild her life.

Kennedy is doing all she can to escape, to prove that she’s not the monster her father was. A simple life of peace and service is all she needs.

A man haunted by a past he can’t forget.

Cain has buried his demons under layers of control and success. The only thing he needs is his company and his solitude. Certainly not a woman with captivating green eyes filled with ghosts so similar to his own.

He’s a reminder of the life she’s left behind. And she’s a threat to his tightly guarded control. As sparks fly between them, they discover that what they might need most is each other.

But with pasts like theirs...you never know when darkness might descend.

I am such a fan of romance novels but there are certain ones that just hit me right, and this is one of them.

We have Kennedy, the daughter of a man who went to prison for a Ponzi scheme that swindled people out of millions of dollars. Even though she was the one who sent him to prison, everyone hates her anyways. She hates herself and realizes everything that she's enjoyed in life is from someone else's hard work and it was stolen. It's hard to feel grateful for any of it. She decides to go as far as she can and ultimately ends up in Sutter Lake to start a new, significantly more modest, life. Alone.

Then we have Cain, the CEO of a prominent IT and Security company, who needs some time to clear his head after burying his mother he felt nothing for. She neglected him and his sister to the point his sister was brutally murdered and that has screwed Cain up pretty badly. Even worse, he's confident that someone in his company is selling information to a competitor and that could cause everything he's worked for to go under. He needs time to figure out how to sniff out the culprit and what to do about it, and he needs space away from the city that haunts him worse than he though. So he goes to Sutter Lake where his best friends live and he plans to adjust while in solitude.

But then fate brings Kennedy and Cain together and while Kennedy is terrified for anyone to learn of her true identity, Cain know something isn't quite right with her story so he's going to figure it out before one of his friends gets hurt.

Of course they start to fall for each other and I kind of loved it. A lot. They are both incredibly flawed and while they are working through their own guilt and traumas, they are doing it in two wildly different ways. Kennedy is focusing on her everyday gratitude and Cain is bottling it in and choosing to not discuss his sister and her death.

It apparently is par for the course for Sutter Lake to have some crime and when Kennedy is kidnapped, it challenges Cain in ways he can't comprehend.

Overall? 5 stars. I loved this one so much I have the other three in the series in my shopping cart for payday. This was my first book by Catherine Cowles and I really enjoyed it. It was everything I want in a romance novel but she isn't going over the top or trying to hard. I absolutely loved it, stayed up far too late reading it, and would recommend it to you. Though this is book four in the Sutter Lake series, they are all completely stand alone so you won't feel out of place but if you've read the other three, the other characters are in here too so it is a nice "what are they doing now" book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

   

Thank you to Social Butterfly PR and Catherine Cowles for having me on this tour- I am so lucky to review books because I find authors and books I otherwise may never have found. All thoughts are my own of course, and this post contains affiliate links.