Friday, August 27, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway for RECKLESS REFUGE by Catherine Cowles


by CATHERINE COWLES

There were shadows I was running from.Ones that haunted and taunted.
Ones that made it so I had no choice but to disappear.

I’d spent years hiding from the world.
My little island haven, the only assurance of safety.

It all changed the moment he showed up at my door.
The hint of pain in his eyes told me that something haunted him, too.
And I couldn’t help but be drawn closer.

But finding the person I needed most came with risks I never expected.
And when our ghosts find us again, neither of us may make it out this time.


REVIEW: 4 STARS
"You're magnificent. This potent mixture of strength and kindness."

Oh, my goodness. I am always excited knowing a new Catherine Cowles book is coming...or is on the horizon. I get giddy because I know that I am going to have a love story that will make me smile. Make me feels the chills. Make me swoon all over a couple. A woman overcoming her emotional barriers with the help of a man that wants nothing but the best for her? Sign me up because I am here for it all. day. long.  Catherine Cowles delivers this kind of story effortlessly, each and every release. This one, at it's very core, was not any different. She delivers and spell-binding love I love to read.

Cowles' use of words is always well rounded; very meaningful. I love the way she tells me a story and provides the love story we all seek to read. She’s quite articulate and while this book had a slower start than I'm used to with her, it wasn’t boring. It was an introduction with wide eyes, and then a slow rollout of life for Shay. It was an easy read, and I couldn't help but cheer Brody and Shay on as they traversed the crazy that was their lives. Crazy thing is, I expected something terrible with every turn off the page. It’s like I was waiting for something to happen, and that almost made me giggle as I got farther in the book because I just knew something was going to sneak up on me. 

I will admit, the amount of drama kind of got overwhelming. I knew what Cowles was doing, mixing together two damaged artists - and that was a great marriage of emotions, but I feel like so much was going on that it bogged down the love story I was trying to enjoy and discover. 

"Are you even breathing, though? What's life if you don't live it?"

But, even saying that, it was a well coordinated dance of trust between Brody and Shay. It was a silent growth, one of invisible barriers and emotional upheavals, but ones traversed together. Unknowingly... or not, they became each other’s person. I did love their growth and the way Brody was there to protect Shay. I loved his heart. He gave her the space and the gentle coercion needed to allow her to open up to him - and that says a lot about his patience, given what he was going through as well. Needless to say, we could see their connection a mile away and it was one worth fighting for - on every single page. They just needed to get on the same page.

I will end this with a little caveat: I was worried that I was going to have to fight with myself about the "romantic suspense" side of it: do I simply enjoy her story because her writing is amazing or do I caution that it’s the same drama each time and it’s the damsel in distress? Well, I decided, given the fact that I knew I was willingly walking into drama, I adjusted my mentality as needed and enjoyed it because, in the end, her writing is excellent and the story as itself a standalone is excellent. As usual. I cannot wait for her next book, Beneath the Wreckage, because I know Catherine Cowles will take me on yet another adventure with a very rewarding HEA for Hunter.

"Caring about someone doesn't make you weak. It makes you stronger. Those feelings give breath and life."
Bee



AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE


Check out the entire series:

Book 1 in The Wrecked Series
 
My review: https://bit.ly/3d2ZBXQ
 
AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE     GOOGLE PLAY

______________________________________

PURCHASE PERFECT WRECKAGE
Book 2 in The Wrecked Series


READ an Excerpt: https://bit.ly/3iwcpZx

AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE

______________________________________

Book 3 in The Wrecked Series
 
 
READ an Excerpt: https://bit.ly/35WgvGc

AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE

______________________________________

Book 4 in The Wrecked Series
  
READ an Excerpt: https://bit.ly/3zinaHw

AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE
______________________________________

Book 5 in The Wrecked Series

AMAZON     B&N     KOBO     APPLE


~MEET CATHERINE COWLES~
Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

~FOLLOW CATHERINE~

FACEBOOK     AMAZON     GOODREADS     TWITTER

WEBSITE

ARC REVIEW
AFFILIATE LINKS USED
COPY PURCHASED FOR GIVEAWAY


Any links on this page may be affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you purchase anything from them by clicking on them. You will not be charged anything extra. I use these links as a way to fund my book giveaways.

1 comment:

  1. Great review Bee!I love Catherine's words. Thanks for reminding me. I need to continue on this series.

    ReplyDelete