Review: Shattered Sea by Catherine Cowles (Tattered & Torn #4)
Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR.
"I'm not trying to erase any of it or fix anything about you. Because nothing needs to be fixed."
Catherine Cowles is easily my top go-to author when it comes to small-town romantic suspense, and her Tattered & Torn series has become a personal favorite. That's saying something considering the series has yet to come to a close, although this fourth and latest release is the penultimate book. Shattered Sea is the story of Laiken Montgomery and Boden Cavanaugh. At eighteen, Laiken's life was forever changed. Where there was once seemingly endless possibilities and promises waiting to be kept, the past near-decade has been about loss and pain. But it's also been about Laiken's exploration of her art, and working at The Gallery has provided some solace. When thirty-three-year-old Hollywood megastar actor Boden steps through the threshold, however, neither of them could've anticipated the immediate connection nor did they have any inkling of how their blossoming romance would accelerate the downward spiral of someone lurking in the darkness, just watching and waiting to pass judgment and mete out deadly punishment...
Ooh, how I love when an author keeps me on my toes! There was a slew of potential suspects with as far as who the true villain was in Shattered Sea. Just when I thought I'd whittled my list down, something would be said or done that would have me eyeing someone else with suspicion! Gah! It's frustrating, but with me, that's a sign of a well-conceived and well-crafted romantic suspense read. Kudos to Catherine Cowles for once again striking that delicate balance between those two essential elements, something which is far easier said than done. I seriously loved both Laiken and Boden--two people who were on their respective journeys towards healing, and while they had support from family (Boden's) and friends (Laiken's), respectively, once their paths converged they had someone who had a deeper understanding of what the other was going. Speaking of support, having the Easton siblings and those who have significant others is always a bonus (and I'm already eagerly anticipating Shiloh's book!), but the scene-stealers have to be Gizmo and Peaches, aka Laiken's and Boden's dogs. Five-plus stars for this must-read!
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Read my reviews for the Tattered & Torn series:
Tattered Stars (book one) - five-plus stars - My Review
Falling Embers (book two) - five-plus stars - My Review
Hidden Waters (book three) - five-plus stars - My Review
Shattered Sea (book four) - five-plus stars - My Review (posted above)
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Date Read: 01 September 2022
Learn more about Catherine Cowles.
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