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Delicate Escape
by Catherine CowlesSeries: Sparrow Falls #2
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on August 22, 2024
SubGenres: Romantic Suspense
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 371
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton, Erin Mallon
Length: 10 Hours And 15 Minutes
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Trust doesn’t come easily when you’ve been running for as long as I have, which is why moving in with a man I barely know is such a bad idea.
Shepard Colson is all golden-boy charm and devastating good looks. But I know what it’s like to be taken in by easy smiles and the promise of forever—I have the scars to prove it.
Only the handsome contractor won’t stop coming by the bakery and prying little truths from my lips—those amber eyes of his seeing far too much. And when all the secrets come crashing down, he’s determined to keep me safe, even if it means moving into my rundown cabin to do it.
Now, Shep isn’t just rebuilding the walls of my home; he’s working his way into my heart. Suddenly, he’s everywhere: shirtless in my garden or in a towel coming out of my bathroom. And my resolve is no match.
Only it’s more than his golden looks. It’s him. The way he watches for my wounds but tells me I’m stronger than anyone he’s ever known. And I can’t help but fall.
But I should’ve known better than to think I could be happy—not when a ghost from my past still has me in his sights. And when he finds me, he’ll do anything to tear my life apart, even if it means ending it for good…
Delicate Escape is the second book in Catherine Cowles’s Sparrow Falls series. I’m officially a fan of Catherine Cowles after only two books, this one and the first book, because both immediately pulled me in. Her emotionally driven storylines and irresistible characters make her writing and stories riveting.
First off, the prologue alone had me hooked and fuming for the FMC, Thea, and what her ex-boyfriend did to her. Thankfully, she is going to have that ex-boyfriend dealt with for what he did to her, and she’ll end up in a small town that will have her finding not only friends who watch out for each other, but also someone who actually knows how to love and care for her in the right way.
I loved Thea’s character immediately and felt for her character. After reading the prologue, I understood why she was on the run and why she was hesitant to trust, especially after what her ex-boyfriend did. She changed her identity to get away from him, and I despised that she had to do that because of who he was. He was a douchebag and needed to be arrested, but I had to remind myself it’s a fictional story and eventually he would get justice for what he did, especially when she has someone like Shep on her side.
I loved the MMC, Shep, immediately because he was such a sweetheart when it came to Thea, and he’s definitely the Golden Retriever-type hero. It was obvious he had feelings for Thea from the beginning, but he knew something was up with her, and he didn’t try to push her. When he offers to help her with her place, especially since she has no water, he realizes she’s hesitant to let anyone in her space, and he takes his time with her, respecting her. Any man like him is a keeper in my eyes. I loved how protective he was of her, and once he finds out what happens to her, he is determined to deal with the ex-boyfriend.
In addition to loving the main characters, the secondary characters, especially the Colson family, stand out, and I love every single one of them. Their family gatherings and warm welcome of Thea create a sense of family that ties into the small-town support system already established.
Poor Thea is dealing with someone harassing her, though, and she suspects who it is, but Catherine surprises me with a twist on who it really is. I wasn’t prepared for it because I didn’t read any hints, but dang it was a shock. I’m still in shock thinking of who was behind everything, but thankfully, this person has been dealt with.
Overall, this suspenseful story featured two lovable characters, earning a five-star rating from me. I’m so glad I made time to read Catherine Cowles books because now she’s an instant buy author for me. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series, plus check out her whole backlist and current releases.
POV: Dual POV( First Person)
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy suspenseful small-town romances with an MMC who falls hard for the FMC, add Delicate Escape to your TBR now.
What to Expect:
🩷Romantic Suspense
🩷Small Town Romance
🩷 He Falls First
🩷 Roommates-to-Lovers
🩷 Golden Retriever x Black Cat
🩷 Woman on the Run
Favorite Quotes:
“Alone isn’t a place. It’s a state of being. And no one can stay that way forever. Every person on this planet needs others. Needs to share their burdens with someone.”
“Don’t think I don’t want you there, Thorn. I want you wherever I can get you. Why do you think I’ve been coming to the bakery every day for months? I don’t even like sweets.”
“You’re worthy, Shepard Colson. You don’t have to fix anything to be that. You don’t have to dig a million trenches or replace feet of corroded piping. You’re worthy just for who you are.”
About Catherine Cowles
Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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