In Perfect Wreckage we have a story where I was a bit nervous to read this one here. I had heard some mixed things about "Perfect Wreckage" and to be honest I just jumped into this one. I didn't really know what it was about, but at this point, I know that I can trust Catherine Cowles to deliver a good story. And so what we have with this one is a bit of a unrequited love, a fun playful hero, and a prickly heroine and some suspense elements along the way to help keep the plot moving. And honestly, I adored this book. I listened to it completely in Audio and honestly this one was just delightful. I was so charmed by the romance and the growth of the heroine, and it just delivered on all fronts.

What was really moving for me was the heroine. We see her go through so much change in this book. We do see her as a young teenager and having her go through a betrayal and it was so hard to see her and knowing that she had suffered that. We also see the way in which the hero has to fight for her and its one heck of a battle. She has gone through such hardships, but the hero is persistent and such a steady presence for her. We see how well he is such a foundation for her. I personally didn't understand his struggle in the relationship quite as much. Its done well, he has also suffered hurt in a previous relationship, but honestly, I did feel like you could go forward with this story with the storyline of him not being fully in the relationship in the third act there. But Catherine Cowles was still able to make this work completely for me and I was so endeared by this one here.

There are some aspects of suspense which I really enjoyed. I wouldn't full out call this a romantic suspense. The suspenseful elements are in the background of the story and aren't 100% present throughout. So that is something to keep in mind when reading this one. The romance is very well focused in this book, and I actually love the way in which this author adds in suspense. Because it's done in a way that will work for both fans of contemporary or suspense. Another aspect I enjoyed was the way in which the heroine is written. She is written in such a way that will immediately work for you. I can be so nervous with prickly heroines, but she is fantastic! I loved the way in which we see so many vulnerable moments that makes her so relatable to the reader. Seeing her transformation is such a beautiful thing to witness and I honestly can't wait for the next one coming up. Catherine Cowles is just winning my heart so quickly!

Overall I found Perfect Wreckage to be a true delight and eager for more!

 

 Beyond the Thistles is the 1st book in the "Highlands" series and I really loved the way in which the story gets set up on this one here. This romance was teased in the previous connecting series, and I was so happy that the author decided to write their story because you could just feel that tension and pining beneath the surface. I really adored the way that their story was written. It did feel a bit slow in some parts, I am not sure if it was just me or what, but I really enjoyed the aspects in which we see this and the moments between this couple that really builds on their relationship.

The story starts off with our heroine, where we see why she is in hiding. She has an abusive possessive ex who wants to control her but she has managed to escape his clutches or she thinks she has. But in "Beyond the Thistles" there is a danger rising towards her and only with the protective of Walker, will she be able to find the freedom and peace she desires. Sloane is a single mother and will do anything to protect her daughter Callie. She is a baker, and she realizes that she is in love with Walker, a man so closed off, that its near impossible getting through his tough shell. But Walker has his own demons that keeps him closed off from everyone. But he can't resist the connection between himself and Sloane....but will his past prevent him from finding a future with the only family he has ever known and accepted him as he is?

Beyond the Thistles was such an endearing story. I had such a blast with it. It definitely had the style that we have seen within this world that this author has created. I so loved the way in which we see the evolvement in their relationship. I adored seeing the heroine be the one to pine for the hero and in the way in which she pursues him and works on trying to tear down his walls. You really see her confidence and strength and not afraid to go after the man she loves and working her way into discovering the man beneath the surface that he hides from the world. It definitely has a strong suspense plot and really was endeared in the way that it balances it out with the romance portion of the story.

Overall I found "Beyond the Thistles" to be a endearing, poignant story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and delivers in brilliant emotion!
 

 This was a romanceopoly pick that I decided to grab up for the "Outer Space" prompt. I have been meaning to return to this author, I read her once many years ago, and never returned. So I thought this series sounded so fascinating, I mean alien dragon shifters??? Yes please! So I really had a wonderful time with this one here. It was so enjoyable in many respects. It definitely had merits for a solid romance, but to be honest, it was quite rough around the edges. While many aspects I enjoyed, I think the writing style just wasn't that polished as much as I am used to.

I did find the set up of the story very interesting. The romance as a whole was completely solid and I really enjoyed this couple together. The hero crash lands on the planet, finds out that Abby is his mate, and she ends up in danger from multiple enemies, and they have to work through the outer conflicts that wish to drive them apart. There are quite a few hot steamy moments between these two. But I think what I really enjoyed the most was the outer conflicts in the plot in the later half of the story. It wasn't really what I expected, if I am being honest, and their time together as dragons *my heart* I just enjoyed seeing what the author delivered in this story.

I am not super eager to read the rest of the series though, because the other couples we are introduced to its going to be so angsty and just from the interactions we saw in this book, doesn't make me super excited. Because it looks like all of them will be enemies to lovers set ups and quite frankly all the heroines look to be abusive brats lol not really my cup of tea but I might read through some reviews and see if those change my mind.

Overall I had a blast with this one and very intrigued about this author's other works. Abducting Abby was a sexy alien romance that had bonker alpha vibes, a charming heroine, unexpected plot surprises and a delightful cast of characters to delight in. 

 The Revenge Plan is the first full length novel in the "Descendants" series by this author. I have had this one on my kindle for a while and I was eager to get to this one. Especially lately I have been working on the novellas for this series. I just love this whole Forbidden Men world that this author has created. Its so entertaining. This book was a bit different than I was expecting. I really found the major plot with the hero and heroine to be so superb. I just adored the way that these two are together. And we see how they just fit together. There is some revenge aspects that build between these two. I love a good revenge plot, and this one was so well done.

So basically the set up of this one is where the heroine walks in on her boyfriend having sex with her roommate. She she runs off and finds haven with her ex boyfriend's nemesis on the football team, and through a course of events, they become roommates. But even though his friends think its a mistake for him to build anything with Haven. But as Wick and Haven really bond together and find their path to each other, some secrets of the past become revealed and their relationship will become more deeper than either of them would have expected.

I really found this one so interesting. There is a backstory that I would say you want to stick with it, I know at first it makes no sense, but trust me, as the story progresses, you will see later in the story how it connects so deeply to the main storyline with Wick and Haven. I absolutely adored it. It just added so much more to Wick and Haven's story. I really loved the way that Linda Kage built this story. It gets a bit wild with some of the revenge aspects, but in the end, the villain gets the justice he deserves.

Overall I became so satisfied with how this one played out and I can't wait to see what the author delivers with these books! 

Well Onley James has DONE it again! I absolutely adored this book. It was superb in every way. In this one we get Avi's story. I was so ready for his book especially after Asa got his book and I was curious if we would get more insight into their connection as twins. I also was curious to see how Avi and Felix would be together and I actually really loved this. The author really got creative with some of the character dynamics. I really was so drawn into their dynamic and there was so much depth to their story. And both Avi and Felix are NOT what they appear on the surface. There are so many layers to their individual personalities that the author really made shine through in this one. The romance was really well done and if you love high spice, then you can depend on this author to deliver a full story that is beyond satisfying. We of course get a solid mystery and some bad people that they get to here haha I swear each time they never stop being "creative" in how they kill these bad peeps. I did love how passionate Felix was in going after these men that raped this girl. I loved that he was so determined to see it through. In ways that the main family group, just wasn't. I also really enjoyed seeing how the four of them (twins with their partners) got along together. And the ways that the twins would do "parent trap" to their partners was pretty hilarious, but it didn't work. Still they don't stop trying lol We also get a build up of the chemistry that is building between Thomas and Aiden so I am very curious where the author will take their story.

Overall I had a blast with this one and eager to continue with these books. Just loving this writing style of this author.

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Echoes of You is the second installment in the "Lost & Found" series. This is also the most recent release from this author. I had such a blast reading this one. There is something about Catherine Cowles that just completely works for me. I love everything about it and more. If you are fans of Jennifer Ryan, then I highly recommend this author to you, but most especially this series as the level of suspense is stronger in this one. Echoes of You is a story that delivers on second chance, friends to lovers, and unrequited love. If you love characters that pine for each other, are brought back together and have a solid friendship from beginning to end....you definitely need this one in your life.

Summary
In Echoes of You, our hero and heroine have been best friends for years since they were kids. The hero, Nash, is part of a big loving family and has always had their support no matter what. He is a bit of a daredevil and gets into all sorts of mischief, and danger and always getting himself hurt but cares so deeply for his community and family and most especially the one friend he won't risk losing. Then we have our heroine, Maddie, who had a very different upbringing. She grew up in a domestic abusive atmosphere. And Nash was her family but she has always wanted more but he has never been open to it. When she left her home and thought she found happiness with someone, she discovered his true motivations, and refused to enter another abusive situation, and returned home as quickly as she could. Now she is in hiding, back home with her only family and someone hunting her, but now their relationship is going to another level, but will Nash embrace what they could have and overcome his fears?

My Outlook
Echoes of You is such a fantastic read. I absolutely was charmed from beginning to end. This is most definitely a romantic suspense but very well balanced with the romance plot of the story. I absolutely loved this one, and love a good friends to lovers. This book is just evidence of why the friends to lovers trope is one of the best out there to read. Catherine Cowles delivers so strongly in this novel. Loved being able to return back to this family, and oh my goodness, all the sibling bantering is absolutely delightful. Then we have the small town aspects of the story. Now this is why small town is so wonderful and poignant to indulge in with. I love the way that the town for the most part really comes together for each other and the way that they support each other.

The actual romance that develops between the two is so captivating. We see the beginning of their relationship when they are in high school and the true tones of their friendship and my goodness my heart immediately melted seeing the type of bond that these two have for each other. Then we have the seperation. The heroine is in a abusive relationship and escapes it to the only family and home she has ever known and in reality she is really coming back to Nash. We see how subconsciously she knows he can protect her and be her safe haven. But man this book had me in all my feels. We see the way in which these two pine for each other and its so captivating. At first we just see the heroine pining for the hero but as the story progresses we see that the hero has always wanted more with Maddie, but as these two learn to let go of their reservations, they really connect on a more romantic level and I absolutely adored seeing this stage in their relationship. I adored everything about this pair here. They just clicked on all the right levels and I became so endeared by the sweet nature of their relationship. I can't wait to see the next one.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine:5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels:5
Ending:5
Overall View:5
 

 

I wanted to finish up this set of books with celebrating "May 4th" and when I read this back in my teen years I LOVED them. I don't care what people say, these are so fun to read if you are a fan of the classics and hate the disney films like I do. But also next you should read about their kids in the "Jedi Knights book" . Reading these made me realize how much I have missed the Star Wars books.

 

I first read this when I was a teenager and was in my crazy Star Wars obsession phase. As it was recently Star Wars Day, I decided to return to these books and highly entertaining and fun to revisit.

 This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.


Introduction
Punk 57 is a standalone by Penelope Douglas, but there is a loose connection between some of her other books. So I do think that if you have read her other books than this is one that you can enjoy fully as well. I really adored this one here. I actually ended up loving it. This is such a hyped story so I will be honest I had NO clue how I would feel about this one. And with it being a bully romance, let me tell you this one was such an intimidating book, but honestly I ended up loving it so much. It was so fascinating to see this book come together and it was NOT what I expected. I did come into this book pretty blind except for the blurb. I didn’t even know much about the book other than that, didn’t even read the reviews, because I really wanted to go into this one with no opinions influencing it at all. And I have to say this book was beautiful! I absolutely adored it, and this is the first time I was cheering on the bully haha or the one doing the obvious bullying.


Summary
The book starts out with with our hero Misha and heroine Ryen, exchanging letters. They have been pen pals since they were kids and they share their true selves with each other in these letters, but on the surface they are so much more than they share with the world. But when Misha’s sister is killed, he stops writing but Ryen has zero clue what has happened, and consistently writes him even though she hasn’t received a response in months because she mad a promise to him. But now Misha has figured out who Ryen is and he sees a girl at their school, who is NOT who she claims to be in her letters and he is determined to show her she is a fraud and will force her to face up to the truth and be honest with not just herself but the world. But it will take risks and dares for Ryen to realize the truths and embrace who she really is and not what the world wants to see.


My Outlook
Punk 57 was such a epic feeling book and I absolutely ADORED every single moment of this book! I honestly couldn’t seem to get enough of what was delivered on this one here. Its probably my favorite Penelope Douglas I have ever ever read! I have read many of her books, and I have to say that this is one of the most well developed books that she has written and was so entertaining. I couldn’t seem to stay away from this one. I did a combo read of this one, started it with the audio and finished it off with the physical book. I know that bully romance can be intimidating, but READ THIS ONE!! In most bullying romances, it NEVER makes sense the bullying. but in this one, it makes sense. Its where the hero is trying to being our the true self of the heroine and its not bad bullying. Its more getting the real Ryen to shine through the facade that she shows to the world. So basically Ryen, is a mean girl or at least hangs with the mean girl type of group. But inside she is a music lover and artist. She wants to be friends with the lows of the school, but she has ingrained herself with so much about being liked by the majority that she forgets about the minority and their value. I will be honest in that this one was rough to read about such a unlikeable heroine. I wanted to love her but it was a real struggle reading this one sometimes. Even in the author’s note, she talks about why she wrote the heroine’s character like this. And I really resonated with her note, so I really respected that. As it really showcased why I am picky about heroines. And in this one, we see a heroine not living her true potential, and the hero doing things to have her face up to that truth and embrace it. Its not an easy road but once she gets there, oh is it satisfying in seeing her find her true tribe.


Overall View
I found Punk 57 to be a stunning, intricately developed romance that delivered the heart, the soul and the healing that made this one such a win for me!