Fragile Sanctuary

Oh my stars, let me tell you about Anson and Rhodes, they were like the ultimate dynamic duo, with their cutesy banter and those intense emotions that just hit you right in the feels. And their chemistry? It was off the charts, like seriously insane! I couldn't get enough of those two main characters, they were just everything! 😍🔥And can we talk about Anson's broodiness? Total swoon material, right? I mean, he'd try to push Rhodes away, but fate had other plans. The more they were forced to be around each other, the more Anson's walls started crumbling, and he finally let Rhodes in. It was like watching a fortress being taken down brick by brick! 😱💕Now, let me tell you about the suspense in this story—it had me gripping the edge of my seat! I was on pins and needles the whole time, never knowing who to trust. And Anson being an ex-profiler added such a thrilling layer to the story. I mean, danger lurked around every corner, and you were left wondering, who's the real deal and who's playing games? Classic Catherine Cowles suspense at its finest! 👀🔪But you know what really stole the show for me? The found family element. Those foster siblings were like a tight-knit bunch, always looking out for each other. And Lolli? She's my new favorite sidekick, she had me in stitches! I just couldn't get enough of this found family dynamic, and I'm already counting down the days until the next book in the series drops! 🥰👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🤣Seriously, I am beyond obsessed with this book! You absolutely have to snag yourself a copy of the first installment in this new series as soon as it hits the shelves. Trust me, you won't regret it! 📚✨

I have a feeling that this series is going to be my new favorite. I just love small town romances and the sense of community that they bring with them and this book had it all! Anson & Rho were two sides of the same coin, both faced pain and were trying to cope up with it. Their relationship development was so good! The character growth of Anson and the chemistry between him and Rho was fabulous! The suspense also was really thrilling and I did not see the twist coming at all. I truly adored the side characters especially Shep and Thea. I can't wait to continue this series and I'm so excited for the next book!

My first Catherine Cowles book and what a journey it was!Rhodes and Anson clashes from the first meet itself and you can scent the chemistry these two had from miles away.Both of them suffered horrific losses in their past but where Rho counts her blessings and try to move on and find peace again, Anson is quite happy to stay in his suffering and reject all and any human interaction.Guess what, nothing works for him where Rho is concerned. It was quite hilarious.I seriously couldn’t get enough of them.Rho supported and uplifted Anson and tried to fill his life with colours but unknown to her was the fact that her just being in his life made it bearable for him. And he was so protective of her despite his grumpy ways and reservations.They had this connection and Rho was seriously amazing. So loyal, sweet and supportive. Biscuit was hilarious and I loved that dog to bits!And Rho’s amazing mismatch family? They added so much flavour and colour to the book. I loved each and every one of them and need books for all of them.The suspense was done really well and when the killer was revealed I was shocked. There were many emotional lines that touched my heart and did I mention the beautiful bonds each of them had with each other? Not only Rho and Anson but Rho and her family too.Can’t wait to read more from this author.-Small town romance.-Brother’s Bestfriend, grumpy x sunshine.-He is only soft for her.-Murder mystery, found family.-Beautiful lines and emotional scenes.-TW, KU and recommended.

𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑺/ 𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑲 𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺 :📑💌 Small Town Romance💌 Grumpy-Sunshine💌 Romantic Suspense💌 Brother's Best Friend💌 Painful Pasts💌 Found Family 😍(The Bestest)💌 Shocking Twists𝑴𝒀 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾: 📝Oh my... This one was quite a ride because as good as the build-up and the chemistry and the romance was, I so didn't expect the suspense to shock me so much and I definitely love it when I'm unable to guess till the end the real reason behind the mystery.That prologue... I was so upset and brokenhearted for what happened and how Rhodes has her entire world upended.The writing, though, right from the start gets you so immersed into the story and gets you connected with all the characters in such a way that you will feel all the emotions and feelings they are feeling.Rhodes works at the local Plant shop and also fosters pets. Can you believe how amazing she is and does things selflessly for others. I was in awe of her.Especially when Rhodes decides to restore her Victorian House where she hasn't stepped foot on after the misfortune happened.Even though she struggled yet I found it absolutely admirable how she finds courage and determination to own up her life.Anson, works for Shep's crew and even though we do get snippets that something majorly horrible things have happened in his past yet I was truly wanting this forever grump to open up and was waiting to see if the town's sunshine girl, Rhodes would be able to do so.The was Rhodes little by little sneaks into Anson's life and even though they work in close proximity and stumble onto each other, yet this feat was remarkable because talking to that man felt equivalent to pulling teeth.Anson and Rhodes both have such painful pasts that they brought tears to my eyes and I was praying and rooting for them.I have to once again say, THE WRITING IS IMPECCABLE as I was really feeling everything and felt like an invisible character who was watching all of these people discreetly. 😅I have to say though, the spice in this one was not expected to be soo hot. Like that scene where Anson tells Rhodes to - Grab the Headboard or the Vibrator scene. Yes, please. 🔥🔥The Suspense though was so well interspersed along this ride as we get two mysteries that are to be solved and both are highly volatile cases that don't have even a speck of clue.I had my suspicions kind of towards the end of the book.....BUT MY GOODNESS WAS I WRONG AND SO SHOCKED to find out the truth behind it all.I FREAKING LOVED the family that Rhodes finds in her bestie and her siblings and the entire family that might not be related by blood but just proves how strong relationships can be.Also, how can I not mention Lolli, the crazy and hilarious grandma who's such a fun person and her so called creative art drives her grand kids crazy with her antics.Seriously, she made me laugh with the way she normalised her craziness. Definitely a fun family.😅Also, What's brewing between Thea, the shy and scared friend of Rhodes and Rho's brother, Shep, who's such a gentleman and a kind person. I can't wait for their book next. Loved this one.❤️❤️❤️❤️

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.

Wauw this book. There is so much happening from the start. So much terrible things happen to more than 1 main person and even through that, romance comes. Romance heals and helps with damaged persons and this book shows that.I lived the fact that nothing seems to go right en when something finally is positive.... something happens. So much tension through the whole book.Lived it and it was defintly 5 stars worth!!!

She’s done it again, Catherine’s books never disappoint. She had my crying on the prologue and then laughing in the first chapter. Seeing the growth in both anson and Rho was beautiful. They both have scars but come to see the beauty in life rather than living in pain. Along with found family along the way. I loved all the siblings especially shep he tries to protect those close to him. And whenever he had a moment with Thea I was sitting up, I’m begging for them to have a book maybe the next one? 🥰they have so much potential he sees her and she needs someone to lean on.My favourite parts of this book had to be when anson got shat on😂as soon as it said biscuit was popping I burst out laughing, that’s the best thing even better when lolli whacked out a dick painting 😂. Only Catherine cowles could do this 😂. But in all serious I love all her books and this one is at the top of the list 🥰I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

God I don’t think I words to tell you how much I love this book! It was everything!Fragile Sanctuary is the first book in Catherine Cowles new series and it hit all the marks!Rhodes has dealt with a lot of trauma in her life, but she’s finally ready to start taking back her life. And that starts with rebuilding the home she grew up in and that means facing the memories that come with it, good and bad.Anson is someone we met briefly in Ashes of You, even from that small glimpse you could see he was living in a world of hurt. He recently moved to Sparrow Falls to get away from his demons and try to forget his past life and the damage it caused.They both met when Rho is exploring her old house and Anson finds her in there and scares the 💩out of her. Both don’t get off the right foot, Anson is grumpy, broody guy who wants nothing to do with anyone. But when they constantly bump into each other they can’t help but discover a shared pain.I loved these two so much! Both have been through the worst of the worst but are still living each day, Rho more than Anson who is locked up tight. But I loved that Rho didn’t let Anson’s grumpiness get to her too much, she was intent on seeing the good in him and making him see that too.But when both of their pasts come back to hurt them they find comfort and safety in each other. The way Anson was always there for her, I mean sleeping on her couch just so she wouldn’t have to be alone?! So sweet! He could not resist her sunshine personality. I adored the way they were there for each other, and the chemistry?! 🥵🔥While this definitely has its heavy moments, there’s a lot of love and laughter. I loved Rho’s family! They were a hoot especially Lolli 🤣Also trust no one, suspect everything and everyone! I thought I knew who it was, was so wrong 😅 Catherine definitely kept me on my toes and edge of my seat!I won’t give anything else away as you really need to just dive in but this was the perfect start to new series! Already can’t wait for the next one!!

Originally I thought I was just getting a romance but to throw in a mystery with it ?Binged in a day.Everyone I guessed had NOT been the unsubWell done!