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Review
4.5 stars
Oh, I love a grumpy/sunshine romance, and this one is so, so good! Grumpy and antisocial single dad and town Sherriff, Trace, meets his match when bright and bubbly Ellie moves in next door.
Ellie was introduced in the last book of the series, she is the sister of Linc (hero of the last book, Beautiful Exile, and she’s just escaped a controlling and abusive relationship and moved to Sparrow Falls for a fresh start. But when Ellie finds herself in trouble, and danger from both her and Trace’s pasts put her in the firing line, Trace steps in to help and he’s suddenly all up in her life.
“You deserve someone on their knees for you, not someone forcing you to yours.”
Neither of them are looking for a relationship, but they can’t deny their attraction, and their dynamic is so much fun. Ellie is light and bright and, despite what she’s gone through, she’s confident in a way that allows her to flirt with Trace and bait him at every opportunity, and it’s so entertaining. Trace tries his hardest to resist, but he finds himself falling hopelessly under Ellie’s spell, and I loved every moment of it!
“You’re killing me … And there’s only so much I can take before I break.”
My breaths come quicker … “And what happens if you break?”
“Neither of us will leave this house for days.”
It’s playful, hot, and all-consuming, and it’s intense from the first moment. I loved how they let each other in, how they support and encourage each other, are there for each other, and as Ellie brings Trace back to life and they fall into each other, they are all-in and functional with the relationship, and I loved that so much!
“I will never run from you because you’re everything I dreamed of.”
I loved the family dynamic, the sibling text conversations, seeing progression for couples from the previous books, and the hints for the next book which are sure to be an emotional rollercoaster! Little Keeley is a delight, and her relationship with her dad and with Ellie is just gorgeous.
Of course, there’s drama and suspense, which I honestly could have done without, and it’s the same formula as pretty much every other Catherine Cowles book, but I enjoyed these characters, and I loved watching them come together and fight for their happy ending.
4.5 stars.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Desiree Ketchum and Jason Clarke, and they do such a great job with it. They bring these characters to life, and Jason’s grumpy voice is just perfect for Trace!
Sparrow Falls
Fragile Sanctuary (#1) (Anson & Rhodes)
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Delicate Escape (#2) (Shep & Thea)
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Broken Habor (#3) (Cope & Sutton)
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Beautiful Exile (#4) (Linc & Arden)
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About Catherine
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.
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