Beautifully Broken Pieces (The Sutter Lake Series)

Taylor Lawson has found her way to Sutter Lake, Oregon. She needed quite, to be alone. To try and find some peace after losing someone so dear to her. What she found was a place that would heal her. People who would once again give her love and hope. A man who charges into her life, and makes her feel. Walker makes her heart race, challenges her and brings with him, happiness.

Walker Cole is a simple man, content with his life. His family, work, and his town, fill his days. He finds he can never really let go of the past, and it has shaped how he looks at his future. But when a women with sad eyes and her guard up comes to town, something sparks in Walker, and suddenly he can't see anything but her. Doesn’t want to. His eyes are open and Taylor is there. She makes him feel hope for more, and helps him heal a little at a time.

Walker and Taylor sweep into each others life's when they needed it most. And no matter how much they try to stay away, they call out to each other and the need to surround themselves with one another is too strong to ignore.

I’m in love with these two. Such passionate characters. Who have both faced loss, a loss that changed them. They built a barrier around their hearts. But together they break through those broken pieces one moment, one kiss, one touch at a time. They’re connection is real and sweet and sexy and they brought so much love and life to each chapter.

Walker is one rugged, handsome cop. He is so very sweet, sexy and protective. Such a swoon-worthy hero. A perfect book boyfriend! Taylor was a fierce and vulnerable character to connect with. Her guarded heart, her pain, her strength, and her sweet heart made it so easy to love her.

Beautifully Broken Pieces was such a fantastic story. I have SO much love for this book and these characters. This story is full of love, family, hope and second chances. Mixed with suspense, some angst and mystery, you have a book that you won't be able to set down, I know I couldn't.

Catherine Cowles writing style reminds me of a cross between Cambria Hebert and Devney Perry, two of my absolute favorites. But with her own fresh style, that's gripping and addictive. She brought life to each of these amazing characters in such a genuine way, that they felt SO real. So I can definitely say I’m adding Catherine Cowles to my absolute favorites list! I am hooked and I can’t wait to read even more phenomenal books by this fantastic author.

JordansBookReviews

No under 18’s🔞

⭐ 10/5

🌶️ 3/5

🚫Content warnings include, but are not limited to:

-Grief/Loss( parent and partner) -Stalking -Serial Killer -Violence/Death

Tropes:

-Dual POV -Found Family -Small Town Romamce -Romantic Suspense -Sheriff Hero -Heroine with a tragic past

Review:

OMFG! This book!! This is my first book by this author and it was absolute GOLD. I cried and laughed and cried some more! I loved it so much. Definitely going up there with my top reads for the year!

In this book we follow two lovely people who both had to deal with the devastating loss of a loved one. It’s heartbreaking and it’s sad and it’s just ugh! But that’s not all! While they get to know each other and all those “things”, there is something horrifying going on in the small mountain town of Sutter Lake, people disappearing and turning up dead!

🖤🖤“Still gotta let yourself experience them. Then, maybe one day, you won’t cry because of what you’ve lost, you’ll smile because of what you had.”🖤🖤

This book is the perfect mix of suspense and romance and just oh well everything! I really loved it so so much. It’s sad and heartwarming at the same time and maybe that doesn’t make sense but that’s what I got lol. It was so good! Omg and when everything was revealed!! I gasped! I never would’ve thought!

I absolutely loved their relationship, both broken in their own way but also so good for each other! And the side characters! I love these people! I love them! I’m moving to Sutter Lake!(Just kidding but man!)

And the spice! It’s not much like spicy spicy on my scale but it’s swoon:

🖤🖤“He took my mouth in a soul- consuming kiss. I swear I saw stars behind my eyelids as his tongue stroked mine, and his finger continued to tease me. “God, you taste like heaven,” he said against my mouth. “I want you to ride me. First my face, and then my cock.”🖤🖤

I also love how they are all like “You’re mine” and “I’m yours”😍

It’s safe to say this book is a 10/5 and I’m so excited to read all the rest! ( Or listen since I do audio at work and reading at home)

FYI the bonus scene is totally worth downloading! Swoon 🥹🥹🤞🏼

One of the joys of reading and reviewing is the access to so many amazing indie authors I never would have found otherwise, and Catherine Cowles is the latest and brightest shining star in indie publishing that I’ve come across recently. The heartfelt depth and the vast array of emotions she evokes left me stunned, spellbound and breathless. From feeling like a knife had been driven through my heart to so much happiness I thought my heart would burst, and everything in between, this book touched my soul so profoundly that I will forever be imprinted with these characters.

The dedication for this book devastated me and the prologue gutted me, so I knew this was going to be an unparalleled experience. I rarely get emotional when reading a book, even those deemed “ugly cry" by others, but this one hits so close to home that, were I a writer, I could have written much of the sentiment myself. This is a story of loss, grief, pain and fear, but also of healing, hope, courage and new beginnings. It takes the reader from the darkest of lows with the raw, jagged pain abrading her heart, to the spectacularly stunning highs of acceptance, contentment and peace that all bathe the heart in the most beautiful of lights. As if that’s not enough, Cowles then adds in well-timed humor, past-relationship conflict, nail-biting drama and intense suspense with shocking twists that make it impossible to set this book aside.

Taylor has lost her mother after a long battle with illness. Her friends mean well, but Taylor is weary of the careful comments and their pity-filled gazes, so while on vacation with them, she decides to stay in the small mountain town of Sutter Lake. She's so tired of hurting, and she thinks life will be easier to endure alone. At least she won’t have to worry about losing anyone else she loves. But in hardening her heart to avoid another loss, she fails to see that she’s robbing herself of the love and soul-deep connections with people who really matter to her.

Walker Cole knowns a thing or two about loss. His childhood friend, high school sweetheart and fiancée was murdered several years ago and, as a police officer, her unsolved case still haunts him. Sure, after all this time, he dates, but at the first hint of serious he ends it. He doesn’t think anyone will ever take Julie's place, until the feisty, stubborn, “short-stack" of a gal moves into his family's rental cabin and manages to get under his skin. But he sees the fear behind her beautiful eyes and those mile-high walls she's erected and vows to take things slowly.

I can’t find the words to express this book's immense impact, nor can I begin to do it justice. It will have poignant resonance with anyone who has experienced loss and offer keen insight about the process of healing grief and moving forward. Cowles’ competency in capturing emotions with words is unexpected and her ability to breathe life into a story is a true gift. I was so impressed with her work that I immediately bought the previous book and started reading it. This book has many elements, all done exceptionally well – romance, steamy chemistry, fantastic secondary characters, drama and suspense – that it's guaranteed to delight any reader's heart! Get your 1-Click (and highlighting) finger ready, and don’t miss the chance to start experiencing this phenomenal book that will fill your heart, touch your soul, and offer hope. For my part, I’ll be eagerly anticipating this author’s next release and sending her a great, big return hug. ;-)

I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

🎧 Audiobook Review🎧

Beautifully Broken Pieces by Catherine Cowles

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️

Found family SmallTown Suspense

Beautifully Broken Pieces is the first book in the Sutter Lake Series.

Narrated by Maxine Mitchell and Aaron Shedlock.

Catherine never fails to capture the readers attention with incredibly written romance, mystery, action, twists and spice!

The two main characters both have amazing chemistry but fight the attraction! Taylor has struggles and won’t open herself to others, while Walker slowly breaks down her barriers! Of course we have some great suspense and surprises along their journey!

Maxine Mitchell and Aaron Shedlock continue to show their talent. They were able to take their voices and breath life into Taylor and Walker. Their performances perfectly captured each and every emotion of the characters. Another great story and continue to highly recommend this and other Catherine stories to others!

Taylor has lost a lot in her life and needs a break when she ends up in Sutter Lake. She has walls up that are mile long and really just wants time to herself. Walker is the town sheriff and he is closed off when it comes to being serious in a relationship.

Taylor and Walker have chemistry from the start, but Walker doesn’t have it easy when it comes to Taylor, even just when it comes to friendship. Though, I loved seeing them lower walls and get close as the story progressed.

The suspense, too. I was living for the suspense in this story. I was hooked and I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know who was behind it all and I was totally surprised!

If you’re looking for a small town, romantic suspense check this one out.

Beautifully Broken Pieces was phenomenal! I loved the way the story pulled me in, how I felt for these characters and the pain they were going through from their past, how they came together and their growing feelings, and how the suspense was like a slow burn, hooking me… and then had me holding my breath from the intensity. It was riveting!

I loved what a stand-up, caring guy Walker was and how he really got a good sense for Taylor right from the start. I hurt for her and understood why she pushed people away and tried to keep them at arms length. I loved the development of their relationship and their personal growth. I loved them opening up, their struggles, emerging feelings, and the growing heat between them. Their chemistry sizzled! I loved them moving on from their past, accepting what could be, and healing. There's drama and tension along the way but it was also full of heart and love.

Then there is the romantic suspense element that almost snuck up on me. It was hinted at and slowly laid out and had me questioning what was going on and I was invested. I loved the build and how it amped up, bit by bit. It was intense and exciting. The characters involved were excellent. I really liked how the Coles embraced Taylor. I loved Walker's best friend Tuck and meeting his sister Jensen and sweet Tessa. I adored Walker’s grandma and thought she added some nice fun. I loved Taylor’s friends from LA and can't wait to find out what's up with Liam. I am all in with this series!

From those first words on the page to the build of Walker and Taylor’s relationship and the intrigue of who was hurting women, this book consumed me. It flowed flawlessly and I loved the dual POVs. I am so happy I finally cracked open my first Catherine Cowles book, I feel like I've been missing out. From the development to the healing and the edge-of-your-seat mystery, this was a fantastic read!

4.5 ⭐️ This was a very solid start to the Sutter Lake series. I actually read Catherine’s most recent series, Tattered & Torn, first. That has allowed me to notice that her writing has definitely improved in the past few years. However, Beautifully Broken Pieces is still very good.

I may have been tempted to give this book 5 stars had Taylor not annoyed the living daylights out of me half of the time. It’s very hard for me to fully connect to a book when I don’t adore one of the main characters. I understand she’s going through grief with the loss of her mother. And I know everyone handles grief differently. On a personal note, my father-in-law passed 5 months ago today. So I’m currently walking that path with my husband. I get it. That being said, I still wanted to shake her and give her a piece of my mind. So frustrating.

Walker was great. Although his name combined with the fact that he’s a cop had me picturing Chuck Norris involuntarily throughout the book. Lol.

Walker having previously been nearly engaged in the past to a girl who was murdered didn’t bother me like it does some people. They were teenagers. It was a first love/puppy love type of thing. And even if it weren’t… are people supposed to stay miserable and alone their whole lives just because someone they loved died? Of course it played into the way he went about future relationships. Of course he’d have to get over the hurdle of guilt for finding new happiness. If those things weren’t true and he went forward like she’d never existed, it would be unrealistic and disingenuous.

Speaking of murders… I appreciate that the mystery wasn’t obviously predictable. By the time the book got around to revealing who the psychopath was, I had two solid suspects in mind. I was right about one of them, and was SO HAPPY I was wrong about the other. And then after you think it’s over, you get hit with a whammy that didn’t exactly surprise me, but that I wasn’t expecting either.

Honestly, Catherine’s ability to seamlessly merge suspense/mystery and romance is what will forever keep me coming back for more of her writing.

I can’t wait for the rest of the series. This book has me so invested in seeing the stories of some of the side characters! (Especially Jensen!! Why does that book have to be third?!)

4.5 Stars

This was a great book, I loved it and immediately bought the next two books in the companion series. The story was great, the pacing was fantastic, the characters were so easy to connect with, and the added mystery was perfect.

Taylor recently lost her mother and just needs a break from life. After her friends take her on a vacation to Sutter Lake, she decides to make it her home, at least for the next year and she finds a perfect place to live on the land of a local family. While she plans to lay low and just enjoy the beauty of the mountains and lake, Walker has other plans. He's not willing to watch Taylor seclude herself from the town, and luckily his family agrees. But while a killer lurks around the corner, will everyone be okay?

While Taylor is a very standoffish character, it's understandable as you learn how deeply she felt about the loss of her mother. And Walker was just great. I love how his story was revealed throughout the book and I love his relationship with Taylor and his family. The side characters had perfect introductions making me so excited to continue the series so I can learn more about them. And the mystery had all the right elements and timing to keep me guessing what was going to happen.

I loved this book, can't wait to read the next, and would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys the following:

✔️ Small Town Romance ✔️ New in Town ✔️ Neighbors ✔️ He Take Care of Her ✔️ Mystery/Suspense ✔️ First Person Dual POV