Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls Book 1)

I could give this 10 stars I would. While this is the first book in a new series, fans have met the surly, mysterious Anson before and we have been chomping at the bit to get his story. It was worth the wait.

This book begins with a gut punch and the hits just kept on coming culminating into a gripping climax that I assure you, you will not see coming. Those of us who were smug about figuring out her last book should bow down to Catherine’s master storytelling because we have been schooled. I made notes along the way so sure I had it all figured out, and I was wrong, so wrong. While this is a bit darker in tone, it breaks up the tension with a delightful new set of characters that I’m already in love with from the hilarious, bawdy grandmother to an array of brothers and sisters with unique personalities that does the “found family” trope justice.

Rho is the perfect sunshine to grumpy, closed-off Anson. They share common ground borne of tragedy, but while Anson buries his pain and the demons of his past deep by closing himself off, Rho tries to fine the beauty in her pain and charges ahead to try and live her best life. She’s the ray of sunshine that cuts into Anson’s dark despair, and he didn’t stand a chance. Their feelings slow burn from enemies to friends to lovers, and while their romance grows steamier, the danger grows closer. Someone has set their sights on Rho, and when their pasts come for them both, it takes the collective effort of this family they created to try and stay a step ahead.

There’s laughs, love, an adorable dog, kittens galore, family, spice, heart stopping suspense, and an explosive reveal that had my jaw drop. I loved every single minute of this book, and had to slow myself down many times and remind myself to enjoy it rather than plowing through to get the answers.

• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Enemies to lovers
• Found Family
• Small Town Romance
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️
• HEA

What a heck of a kickstart to this new series! Catherine Cowles books are my happy place. There's just something about them that always feel like a warm blanket on a cold day. Comforting and satisfying. So to say I'm excited to have this new series from her is a massive understatement, and if book one is anything to go by, we're in for a real treat. A slow burn, unique, beautiful, heartfelt, story that gripped me from the get go. Plus the twists and suspense in this book were so so so good, it had me not able to put the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen.

Anson is a broken and tortured man who wants nothing more than to be a recluse, completely withdraw from society and run from his tragic past. I love nothing more than to read about tortured heroes and I was drawn to Anson instantly. I loved everything from his grumpy nature, his broodish demeanour and his desire to escape, with loss and pain his only companions. That is until lively Rhodes plummets head first into Anson’s world. I absolutely loved Rhodes, I just fell in love with her colourful, charismatic personality and her whole outlook on life. She was like a beautiful breath of fresh air. She was the light to Anson’s dark and everything he never knew he needed.

The intense physical and emotional connection and chemistry that slowly built between them was nothing short of beautiful. Neither Anson nor Rhodes were expecting or even looking for the other piece to their tragic puzzles, but more and more they grew to crave and depend on each other. They were truly meant to be; a tortured and broken man and the hopeful woman set out to save him. There's no better match than these two characters, she brought lightness to his darkness and magic when he needed it the most, they were just perfect together. I loved how Catherine developed the layers of this couple and their wonderful story.

I couldn’t get enough of Anson and Rhodes’s story, and I loved every single word of it. Through all the romance was a mystery that had me hooked and desperate to figure out who and why. It brought a mystery/suspense storyline to the book which had me guessing, and certainly brings some surprising twists, and all leads up to an exciting ending that ties in really well with the love story, and which definitely had my heart pounding! It had some serious moments of drama, danger and suspense. I was so consumed by the action on the page, and I loved that it kept me on my toes. Absolutely brilliant!

It’s beautifully written and so engaging, and I was swept up in the love story, the suspense, and the sweet town of Sparrow Falls. This was the perfect introduction to what I can only imagine to be a perfect series. The romance, the suspense, the small town and their charismatic residents, all of it just hit the spot just right for me. I loved Anson and Rhodes as characters, and I loved getting to meet the extended Colson family. This is a great group, and there are sure to be some epic stories our way, and I can't wait to learn more about them in their books.

Catherine Cowles does it again. If she writes it, I will read it. The woman is an amazing author and I cannot get enough of her words. In Fragile Sanctuary, narrated by Zachery Webber and Andi Arndt, the first book in her Sparrow Falls series, we get Anson Hunt and Rhodes and I absolutely loved their story! The narrators truly brought Anson and Rhodes story to life for me. It was emotional, heartbreaking, touching, full of angst and suspense. This story had grumpy/sunshine, age gap, brother’s best friend, forced proximity and touch her and you die vibes and I absolutely devoured it. I loved the found family in this story so much and am so excited for this series. The characters, all of them, and their love and protectiveness was absolutely amazing.

This is a standalone and a start of a new series, however, we meet Anson in her previous series, Lost and Found, and though it does not have to be read to read this one, I highly recommend it, as I love everything this author writes. Anson is a broken hero. He lost so much and carries the weight of that loss with him every single day. He is strong, determined, protective and caring, but hides it from everyone, until her. Rhodes faces tragedy at a very young age and it left long-lasting scars. She found her place with her best friend and her newfound family, but she is ready to face her past. She was determined, full of sunshine, and caring. I loved both characters so much, even as they broke my heart at times. Both have been through much.

Anson left his past behind him, but when Rhodes is threatened, he is willing to do anything to keep her safe. Even if it costs him everything. Rhodes is ready to face her past and move forward, but doing so brings danger to her doorstep, literally. Though their journey did not start of easy, as he tried so hard to keep her at arm’s length, the moment he snaps, wow, just wow. Sometimes two imperfect people come together in the most perfect way and this is what Catherine Cowles gave us in Fragile Sanctuary. I was captivated by this story, the characters, their journey and cannot wait for what is next in the series. This is a must-read for sure and one I highly recommend.

Absolutely loved it. Happy listening!

There's always a thrum of excitement every single time Catherine Cowles releases the first book in a new series. After Anson Hunt was introduced in Ashes of You (book five in the Lost & Found series), I was more than curious as to what his back story was and why he was as reclusive as he was. I also wanted to know who what kind of individual would be the one to take on his grumpy ass and let him see that there was still a lot of living to be had. But I had no idea just how traumatizing the events that led to this thirty-five-year-old to build such a fortified wall around himself were. And who would have thought that he needed some sunshiny to seep into his soul and plant and sow seeds of love and hope in the form of a twenty-seven-year-old who knows a thing or two about loss and trauma?

If you've read the Lost & Found series ender, then you'll recall that Anson was mentioned as being a former profiler with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Behavioral Analysis Unit, and it was hinted that something devastating to a loved one during that time. Two years since he left law enforcement, Anson now works in restoration and construction for his best friend's business. When the next project turns out to be a partially burnt house that belongs to the man's foster sister, Anson knows he should keep his distance. But something about Rhodes Stirling has his protective instincts roaring back to life. But he's got a cache of dark secrets that appear to be ready to wreak havoc on him...and Rho.

Catherine Cowles knew what she was doing when she brought Anson into the consciousness of her readers in Ashes of You. Our curiosity was piqued and there was no way we would rest until we learned more about him. And now, it's his story with Rho that sets the ball rolling for the Sparrow Falls series, and talk about setting the bar astronomically high. The romance ticked off all the boxes for me, from sweet to swoony to steamy (and repeat!), and the suspense was top notch, leading to me switching suspects more than once (turns out my first one was the right villain!). As always, the elements of family and community clicked with me, and I'm eager to see what awaits the rest of Rho's siblings as we journey on in Sparrow Falls, Oregon. Five-plus stars for Fragile Sanctuary.

🐕Brother's Best Friend 🐕Grumpy/Sunshine 🐕Touch Her & 🔪 🐕Romantic Suspense 🐕Small-Town . “No one’s more important to me than you, Rho. You’re everything.” . Review: This is book 1 in Catherine's new Sparrow Falls series. We met Anson in Ashes of You. He was Lawson's good friend that helped him. He was so mysterious and definitely intrigued me with his past profession. So I couldn't wait to find out his story and for him to get his HEA!

After a horrific tragedy, Anson needs a fresh start, so he moves to Sparrow Falls. He is an ex-FBI agent that worked for the BAU. As someone who has seen every episode of Criminal Minds. I freaking loved it! Rhodes is the sweet girl who has grown up in Sparrow Falls and is adored by everyone. She is ready to take back what she lost years ago. Anson is all brooding and grumpy to the max, while Rho is a happy ray of sunshine. I could relate so much to Rho's personality. I laughed out loud so many times because I could absolutely see myself doing or saying some of the things Rho did. There was no way Anson's walls could withstand Rho! These two have such traggic pasts, it broke my heart and I just wanted to hold them both! As tragic as they are, I think it's truly what brought them together. They helped and healed each other in a way that no one else could. Color in a world that had gone black. Anson was so swoony! His nickname for Rho and the protectiveness he had over her made my heart soar! You could feel the chemistry these two had and I couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face. I kept guessing who the suspect was, but Catherine threw me for a loop with that twist! I won't give anything away other than you need to read this one!🥰 It might be my favorite book by Catherine to date! And with so many cute animals, you can't help but love them all!

I got to listen to the audiobook by Andi Arndt and my favorite Zachary Webber. They did a fantastic job bringing Rho and Anson to life. I could not think of better narrators for these two! I loved all of the side characters and I can't wait for book 2, Delicate Escape! I'm dying to know Thea's story and of course Shep! I'm praying we get Kye and Fallon!!!😏🙏🤞 I honestly love this entire found family and I can't wait for each of their stories!🥰

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲...

💗Grumpy x Sunshine 💗Forced Proximity 💗Brother's Best Friend 💗Broken Hero 💗Found Family 💗Touch Her and 💀 Vibes 💗Belt Scene

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:⁠ I have always had a soft spot for FBI profilers. Criminal Minds was my favorite television show forever. When I saw that Anson, the hero in Fragile Sanctuary, was an ex-profiler with a tortured soul, I knew I would fall head over heels. Even though Anson was gruff and cold on the outside, his passionate, protective nature showed through. He did not disappoint me—not one bit. Both characters knew pain and suffering, yet their outlooks were opposite. I love grumpy/sunshine vibes, and Anson and Rho have them in spades. Even though they tried hard, neither could resist their undeniable attraction. They were like moths to the flame. They connected on a level that they could not ignore. I loved watching as Anson and Rho dealt with their past trauma to work toward finding a future together. The storyline in this book was amazing. The suspense was intense. The twists and turns, some of which I never saw coming, kept me invested and made for a fantastic, unpredictable, and exhilarating read. But what truly warmed my heart was the found family dynamics. The Colson family is simply fabulous! I'm excited to get to know them better throughout the rest of this series. Grandma Lolli was incredibly hilarious; I couldn't help but laugh at all her hysterical antics! She was an absolute trip! This is a book you don't want to miss!!

As usual, I listened to the audio while I read along. The audiobook, narrated by Zachary Webbe and Andi Arndt, was fantastic. Both narrators did an excellent job bringing this drama-filled story to life.

Fragile Sanctuary is the new start to a series that promises to be a heart pounding, sensual and emotional journey! Catherine Cowles proves that she is a romantic suspense genius by beautifully blending the palm sweating tension of suspense with the butterflies of chemistry that are the perfect building blocks for this style of romance. Cowles expertly crafts the beginning of this found family series with characters full of depth, writing that leaps off the page and clear world building. Cowles always brings to life intense characters with multiple layers and depth, she uses care and understanding as she creates the complicated and heart breaking moments that make them who they are at the beginning of the story. I always know that Cathrine Cowles will take me on an intense emotional journey while interweaving a twisty tensions and uncertainties, and this novel has just made me continue to fall in love with her characters and world.

Anson and Rhodes are two people with tragic pasts who both open and close themselves in different ways to protect their hearts. These two might get off a little bit on a contentious foot, but their souls easy see something in each other that continuously draws them together. There is a careful and hesitant way that they begin to open up to each other that is sweetly endearing and such a delightful way to build their trust in each other. I adore that Cowles builds their relationship gently in moments and takes the time for them to open themselves to each other, giving them the foundation of friendship for their romance to fully blossom. When these two finally admit to themselves and each other the feelings that they have they are all in and their romance is beautiful and clear. Cowles not only gifts us with a central romance that is beautiful and strong, but she introduces us to Rhodes' family who is built from people who have chosen to love and care for each other when times were hard. I love a found family and each new character we are introduced to are so beautifully compelling and interesting that I am beyond excited for them to get their happily ever afters!

Fragile Sanctuary is beautiful it is balance of heart break and heart mending. If you love a romance between two broken souls who recognize their companion and help to heal each other than this novel is the one for you! Catherine Cowles has created a beautiful new world, a stunning new family, and I am so excited for each of these new friends to find their true loves!

Thank you so much to Catherine Cowles and her team for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have said it before, and I will say it again...I am a BIG fan of Catherine and her books. I have only read Lost & Found but plan on reading more of them once my TBR list dies down HAHA. But seriously, this book has been on my horizon since it was announced, and it did not disappoint. Catherine does a great job of introducing us to characters who are sort of broken in one way or another. They may put on a front like all is well but there is trauma underneath. And watching said characters find their people who help walk them through the trauma is so beautiful! I also love the added suspense in her books. I have found myself trying to determine who the bad guy is and have only guessed correctly once out of five books. She is great with the twists.

Rhodes is ready to address her past- or so she thinks. She is finally working on her dream of rebuilding her childhood home. The same home that burned with her whole family in it except for her. She wants to honor what they had and build it back up. Her brother has hired his best friend from college who is living in town now, Anson. She has heard so many funny stories that she thinks he is a different person when she meets him. He seems like a ghost of himself. She decides not to let him rain on her parade and keeps her eyes on the prize. However she can't seem to not see where he is on the site. She finds herself wanting to make him smile and crack that nut. She starts inviting him over for dinner without any intentions (at first). When her safety is at risk, he starts spending the night...on the couch...to her chagrin. She is so intrigued by this man who pulls her to him like a magnet but then just as easily can flip a switch and be cold as ice. But when she finally learns what has happened to him, she understands. She is willing to take what he will give her and she will try so hard to help him get on the other side of his grief. But now the killer that he had hunted and who made him who is now is back and he has his sights set on Rhodes. What are the chances this killer is from Sparrow Falls and is linked to her family's fire? What are the chances that he has been on Rhodes' trail for a while now? Will Anson be able to save her? Or will his worst nightmare happen again?

Anson is basically a ghost of himself at this point. He can't sleep. He has a handful of friends but none as good as Shep. Shep who has given him a job and knows his history but has agreed to keep it on the DL. Even to his brother who is the sheriff. Shep who invites him to family dinner without fail every week. Shep who hires him on to help his little sister with her family's house. Shep's family is a hodge podge in the best way. They all come from different backgrounds with different histories and Anson can't help but admire their strength. When he does in fact meet said little sister, Anson prevents her from getting hurt and now she is forever Reckless in his mind. She is beaufitul and resilient. He sees there are scars she is holding but she is facing them head on instead of hiding like him. But now he finds himself drawn to her like a bug to a light. He can't help it. He is mean and then goes to apologize. He pushes her away and then pulls her back in. And now he has found himself sleeping on her couch while he can hear her sleep in the other room. He finds himself there for her when has a nightmare. He finds himself in a situation he hasn't been in with a woman in a long time and yet instead of running he lays down the gauntlet that he can't give her everything but he is willing to try something. So they do. All while not telling Shep. They explore each other. He opens up to her like he never has before. He wants to be better for her. But then his worst nightmare comes true- the killer who took away his world is back and closing in on him fast. Now Anson starts to question a lot of things like Rhodes' family fire being a little too convenient. And the fact that there were several other fires in the area. And now Rhodes is missing and he HAS to find her before something happens or he won't be able to live with himself.

YALL this is was SOO good! Watching them help each other was so great. Catherine does a great job discussing grief and heavy topics and how it can look different for different people. I loved the side characters and can't wait to see how the cookies crumble with Rhodes' family and MAN am I pumped for Shep and Thea. Shep who could literally be with any woman in town but then one he asks out says no- reverse grump to sunshine anyone?? Is that what a black cat is LOL? If you haven't picked this one up yet, I highly recommend if you want small town, brother BF, grump to sunshine with a large drop of suspense thrown in the middle OH and some GREAT spice!!

True to form, Fragile Sanctuary was another Catherine Cowles stunner. Rich characters who begged you to meet and know them, warm, wondrous and unconditional familial love, a cute fluffy puppy, and a cleverly constructed plot to keep you turning the pages eagerly. It was a typical Cat Cowles read.

And also true to form, a broody, damaged hero who needed the safe cushion of love and genuine compassion. Of acceptance and light. He found that in the immensely strong and broken yet bright Rho, a woman whose scars, both physical and emotional, hadn’t destroyed her.

Blissful chemistry fell from the pages, but also humour, colour, joy, and solidarity. A wonderfully constructed mystery that was both heartwarming, heartbreaking and riveting. I cannot wait to learn more about the ragtag family that is the Colsons, thankful there are many of them in all their various states of brokenness, needing to find their forever safe haven.

I love small town romance books, but I really needed something a little different and this book delivered! This was my 2nd romance/thriller type of book and I loved it. It was beautifully done. I loved the found family vibes, small town vibes, and I was on the edge of my seat this whole book! I never knew what was going to happen next & the answers to my questions/the suspenseful events were NOT predictable at all. This story was also about healing, grieving, and how messy all of that can be. It was absolutely beautiful! I can’t say enough about this book! I WILL be reading the next book. I am SO excited for it. I also loved how it had a happily ever after & still gave all of the feelings I expect from a romance book. The humor, banter, and spice were perfect. I WOULD recommend this book!