Review: Delicate Escape by Catherine Cowles (Sparrow Falls #2)

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

We're back in the small town of Sparrow Falls, Oregon with the second book in Catherine Cowles's series that shares the same name as the town and focuses on the Colson siblings. Delicate Escape pairs Shepard Colson, the second eldest among the siblings at thirty-four, the first to be adopted, and the owner of Colson Construction, with Thea Stewart, a resident of Sparrow Falls the past two years and who works at both The Mix Up and Bloom & Berry, the local bakery and nursery, respectively. Shep has been fascinated with Thea from the moment he first saw her, but she's maintained her distance in their interactions, seemingly immune to the golden boy charm other women swoon over. Then issues with her home force her to accept help--Shep's help. With every bit of ground he breaks and each wall he takes down around Thea's house, Shep builds a formidable foundation in his blossoming relationship with her. But the past continues to loom in the shadows, and it could be waiting to remind Thea that there's no escaping it.

Over the years, I've found that Catherine Cowles's books hit the spot whenever I'm itching for well-written romantic suspense set in small towns. She doesn't skimp on either the romance or the suspense, which is just how I like it. The fact that her novels tend to be part of a series or are interconnected make it even better because then I'm able to follow a cast of characters through several books. With the Colsons in the Sparrow Falls series, Cowles has given readers an interesting set of siblings--two of whom are the biological children of the parents, and four who were fostered or adopted at varying ages. The family dynamic is fascinating, particularly between two of the siblings, but I'm waiting to see if my theory is right or wrong on that as the series moves forward. Each sibling has a protective streak, and Shep's is on full display when it comes to Thea. He's also very nurturing and supportive, encouraging her to trust and be the strong person he knows she actually is. There was so much growth with Thea! I couldn't help but root for her and wish ill will on her evil ex. The twist? I didn't see it coming, which is a good thing. I love it when an author manages to catch me off guard. Five stars go to Delicate Escape and three months till book three!

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Read my reviews for the Sparrow Falls series:

Fragile Sanctuary (book one) - five-plus stars - My Review

Delicate Escape (book two) - five stars - My Review (posted above)

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Release Date: 22 August 2024

Date Read: 10 August 2024

Learn more about Catherine Cowles.

Purchase Delicate Escape on Amazon.