Thrifty Thursday: Romantic Suspense

From the very first page, I knew I was going to enjoy Whispers of You. I am an ardent fan of romantic suspense, and the author did a superb job of combining the romantic and suspense elements.

The romantic journey of Holt and Wren, the protagonists, began when they were just teenagers. Prior to that, they were best friends. An attack that left Wren battling for life and Holt riddled with guilt for his inability to protect her marred their relationship. This guilt led to him leaving all his loved ones behind, including Wren. Since then, neither he nor Wren have been the same. Ten years later, Holt returns to Cedar Valley, hoping to reconnect with his family and fight for the girl he walked away from.

The journey of second chances, however, would not be an easy one. Several obstacles, served as impediments to their desire for a happily ever after. The biggest obstacle was trust. Wren needed to trust that Holt wouldn’t leave again. Holt needed to trust that Wren didn’t blame him for his inability to protect her ten years ago.

I loved how good these two were together. The emotions on display throughout the story left no doubt in the reader’s mind as to the depth of the love between Wren and Holt.

The suspense element was well executed. The author did an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to the identity of the person behind the attack. The villain is someone no one suspected, not even the reader.

Whispers of You delivered a poignant tale of healing, forgiveness, second chances, and love. A must-read for romance readers.

Story Evaluation
Plot	5
Characters	5
World Building	4.5
Writing Style	5
Pacing	5
Cover	4
Enjoyment	5
Ending	5
Overall:

Echoes of You is the second standalone in Catherine Cowles Lost and Found series. This instalment tells Nash Hartley’s story. Echoes of You delivers a romance that features characters who have shared a friendship since childhood. A friendship that grew to be more, but fear of damaging same, led to both not expressing their true feelings. This only led to heartache and pain. However, fate granted them a second chance.

Title: Echoes of You
Author(s): Catherine Cowles
Series: The Lost & Found #2
Published by The PageSmith LLC on May 2, 2023
Pages: 330
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchase
Format: eBook

Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Reading Challenges: 2024 COYER Chapter 2, 2024 Thrifty Thursday Reading Challenge
Rating:
Heat Level:

Nash Hartley has always been my everything: Protector. Partner in crime. Best friend. The person who was there for me in my darkest hour.
But my heart wanted so much more. So, when I knew for certain Nash didn’t feel the same about me, I tried to move on. What a mistake that turned out to be.
Now, I’m back in our small town, desperate to escape my living nightmare, and the only person I want to see is him.
As secrets are revealed, and Nash finds out what happened to me, he’ll do anything to keep me safe.
But there are those who will do anything to stop him, and this time neither of us may make out alive…

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Maddie and Nash first met in kindergarten, and since then they have been inseparable. Nash was the one person, Maddie could count on when she needed an escape from her abusive parents. Nash would do anything to protect Maddie.

Throughout the years, Maddie’s feelings evolved into more than friendship. She waited patiently, hoping for a reciprocation of her feelings, but to no avail. So she chose to leave Cedar Valley. Despite the distance, they maintained contact; however, unforeseen circumstances broke their communication. She thought she had found happiness, but instead she was living her worst nightmare. To escape the situation, she chose to return home. The home where she felt safe with the only man she loved.

I had a wonderful time with this book from start to finish. Once again, the author did an excellent job of creating the perfect balance of romance and suspense.

The connection between the hero and the heroine leapt from the pages. It was clear to everyone except for them how much they were in love with each other. I found myself completely immersed in the story and totally invested in Nash and Maddie’s romance. There was no denying how good they were together.

It was a delight to see the romance develop between these two. It may have taken them a long time to reach this point, but it was worth the wait. Everything about their relationship was beautiful. Their friendship and their eventual romance will warm the hearts of romance readers.

Nash’s relationship with his siblings and his parents added another great element to the story. They had each other’s backs through thick and thin.

Let’s not forget about the suspense. While there was no surprise as to the identity of the villain, Cowles did an excellent job in keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

I enjoyed everything about Echoes of You, and I look forward to reading the remaining books in the series.

 

Story Evaluation
Plot	4.5
Characters	5
World Building	4
Writing Style	5
Pacing	4.5
Cover	4
Enjoyment	4.5
Ending	5
Overall:

 

Whispers of You: A Kindle Freebie on October 3, 2023. Currently, it is $4.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.

Echoes of You: A Kindle Freebie on January 12, 2024.  Currently, it is $4.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2024 COYER Chapter 2
• 2024 Thrifty Thursday Reading Challenge