Review: Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles (Starlight Grove #1)

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

"You said I gave you a home, but it's you. Because I've never felt okay in my own skin, so scared of what I could be—" 

"Dex," I croaked. 

"But you made me unafraid. For the first time in forever. You made me okay with who I am."

I think many readers have their go-to authors; you know, the ones whose new releases are automatic additions to the to-be-read pile, regardless of what the blurb states. And I'm not talking just somewhere on the TBR pile either. These are the books that go on the tippy-top, bumping off whatever else may have been on there previously. Well, Catherine Cowles is one of those authors for me. My very first read from her was her debut novel, a standalone titled Further to Fall. By no means was it a perfect book, but there was a great deal of promise there, the kind that made me want to see what she would give readers next. And with every series, standalone, and novella that followed, I'm heartened over the fact that the faith and trust I put in Cowles has been rewarded tenfold. Her latest series starter more than follows suit, setting the bar impressively high (once again), leaving me impatient for the next Archer brother's story.

Across the Vanishing Sky is the first book in the Starlight Grove series, and it's set in the fictional California town by the same name, featuring five brothers trying to step out of the shadows of the dark legacy left behind by their father. Thirty-one-year-old Dexter Archer--yes, that Dex--has served his ten years working for the FBI and is ready to re-establish his roots in the hometown where his family still lives at. His grey hat hacking skills have him seamlessly navigating the depths of the web, but he's at a bit of a loss when it comes to his new neighbor. The fact that Braedyn Winslow is a twenty-seven-year-old single mother to an eight-year-old named Owen means she's fiercely independent and knows how to give as good as she gets. So, when Brae asks for Dex's help in her search for her missing best friend, he knows he should refuse, especially with the secrets that he keeps. However, his gut--and his heart--can't say no.

Dex was one of those supporting characters that I just knew had more to him than meets the eye. At to that the fact that he has four brothers--three older, Wylder, Kol, and Orion, and one younger, Maverick--plus a father who wreaked havoc on them and their town and an uncle who took them in, no questions asked, and goodness, but I was already emotionally invested in these men all getting their happily-ever-afters. I highly doubt anyone could have been better paired to Dex than Brae. She had been through her fair share of turmoil in her life, but she was protective of those who mattered most to her, i.e. Owen and Nova, and would move mountains for them. And because I love it whenever there's a fur baby that plays a part in the story, I need to give a shoutout to Yeti, who was such a good girl. The romance had me swooning and the suspense kept me guessing, and so Across the Vanishing Sky receives five-plus stars.

Release Date: 03 March 2026

Date Read: 20 February 2026

Learn more about Catherine Cowles.

Pre-order Across the Vanishing Sky via Amazon.