Review: ‘Fragile Sanctuary’ by Catherine Cowles
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Fragile Sanctuary
by Catherine CowlesSeries: Sparrow Falls #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on May 16, 2024
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 360
Narrator: Zachary Webber, Andi Arndt
Length: 11 Hours And 32 Minutes
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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The scowl should’ve been my first clue to stay far away from Anson Hunt. The sexy smirk and the fact that he’s my brother’s best friend? Reasons two and three. Not to mention, he’s the new contractor working on my house.
He’s everything I’m not: grumpy, rude, and more than a little attached to his solitude. It doesn’t matter how many times I try to kill him with kindness; the man simply won’t crack.
Until he sees me shatter.
Because when my world comes crashing down around me, Anson is the one catching me as I fall. And as so-called accidents start plaguing every part of my life, it’s Anson who steps in to keep me safe.
As he does, I can’t help but feel a flicker of heat. And it only takes a single moment for that spark to ignite into flames, engulfing us both.
But Anson’s a man with secrets, and they have a price. When they’re revealed, neither of us will make it out unscathed…
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Catherine Cowles books, and after reading Fragile Sanctuary, I’m officially hooked. This is the first book in her Sparrow Falls series. It includes some of my favorite tropes, like Grumpy/Sunshine. I loved both characters, felt for them as I learned their backstories, and enjoyed seeing them find love together. Another thing I enjoyed was the Slow Burn Romance, which I’ve been craving lately in my romance reads.
This book is told in dual POV, first person, which I always enjoy because it lets me be inside both characters’ heads and understand their feelings as their relationship develops. It didn’t take me long to finish reading, since I was hooked from the first page by both the characters and storyline, even through its emotional moments, especially learning what happened to Rho and later to Anson. Both have experienced losses in their lives and share more in common than they realize, although they don’t like each other at first.
Anson is the grumpy hero who lives up to his reputation in how he treats Rho, but I knew he’d eventually open up to her. Especially when Rho was in danger, he became a different person. I appreciated his character, especially his concern for Rho. Yes, he’s definitely going to be on the book boyfriend list after reading this book; that’s how much I loved his character.
When it came to Rho, I loved her character due to her strength and how she didn’t let what happened to her dim her spirit. Her motivation throughout the story is to reclaim control over her life and maintain her optimism, even though she’s experienced trauma. I loved how she handled Anson at times. I loved how she handled her foster brothers, too, even though they had a reason to be protective of her.
The best part was when Rho and Anson became more. Yes, it’s a slow build due to Anson trying not to fall for Rho, and I was here for it. There’s a reason for his hesitation, but once they give in to their feelings, it’s inevitable, and I was there for it.
The suspenseful storyline also kept me hooked. Anson sensed something was wrong after learning about Rho’s past, and it happened again. The twist about who was behind everything was unexpected, involving both Rho and Anson.
Overall, this was an amazing book that made my emotions go haywire, and I give it 4.5 stars. I’m glad I finally picked up a Catherine Cowles book and now look forward to reading the rest of the Sparrow Falls series, plus her other books. She’s definitely got another fan of her books after just this book.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you’re looking for a small-town romance full of mystery, suspense, and characters whose relationship develops from initial dislike to something more, Fragile Sanctuary is a must-read. I also highly recommend the audiobook; Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt truly bring Anson and Rho to life.
What to Expect:
💗Small Town Romance
💗Hate to Love
💗Age Gap
💗Grumpy/Sunshine
💗Forced Proximity
💗Slow Burn
💗Broken Hero
💗Found Family
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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