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dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is a perfect balance. All of my favorite romantic tropes and none of the ones I dislike. Add that with with a murder mystery where I genuinely did not know who did it until it was fully revealed. (Sure I had guesses… but I kept changing my mind!!) Oh, and the spice is ❤️🔥! It does not disappoint but is also not overly descriptive.
There is a certain level of predictability to the flow of the story but I found that to be comforting. There were no random twists thrown in just for the sake of trying to shock/shake the reader. At the same time, the author does not give away all of the secrets. See… perfect balance!
Read it!
There is a certain level of predictability to the flow of the story but I found that to be comforting. There were no random twists thrown in just for the sake of trying to shock/shake the reader. At the same time, the author does not give away all of the secrets. See… perfect balance!
Read it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Torture, Blood
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did love this book but it wasn’t because of the romance. I was completely invested in our two main characters and their backstories. Their traumas and how that affected them had me. I was also obsessed with the mystery and the way plot was built to that ending had me stressed. However, the romance itself I just found to be alright and that I think was because it felt like they went from meeting and sort of being closed off to each other to then sleeping together and being in a settled relationship. We spent so much time setting up who they were and their pasts that I don’t think we built their relationship. This was only minor really as I really was kept on the edge of my seat as I was reading and I am so intrigued by what the other books in the series will hold. Also loved Lolli and her naughtiness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Torture, Stalking
FMC family died in fire and the events are on page in the first chapter. Also serial killer is discussed from MMC past and it is all connected to the present day events.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My introduction to romance novels was devouring endless Nora Roberts' books and Fragile Sanctuary gave me that same feeling in the best way possible. Romantic suspense isn't one of my usual go-tos, but I fell in love with the community of Sparrow Falls and depth of emotion shared by the main characters.
What I enjoyed:
What I enjoyed:
- The connection between Rho and Anson was lovely. I love a good grumpy x sunshine pairing and absolutely delighted in Rho's response to Anson's ongoing grumpiness. Watching their relationship and their understanding of one another grow felt real and powerful.
- Rho's foster family was absolutely chaotic and endearing. I love stories with found family, and this family was absolutely lovely.
- Lolli is my queen. I want her art in my home and to hang out with her for hours.
What was a miss for me:
- Some of the suspense plot points required a little more suspension of disbelief than I could muster.
The idea that The Hangman and Rho's stalker/arsonist were the same person is quite the coincidence. - While I loved the family, the sheer volume of siblings was a little hard to keep track of at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
hopeful
tense
From the cover and blurb I did not guess that this book would feature a serial killer, but luckily I’m all good with that.
It is trope central: brother’s best friend, grumpy sunshine, hurt/comfort, small town, touch-her-and-die etc.
I ate this up tbh. Some of the writing made me cringe a tiny bit hence the dropped star but honestly as far as contemporary mystery romances go this was a win for me and I’m immediately moving on to the next in the series!
It is trope central: brother’s best friend, grumpy sunshine, hurt/comfort, small town, touch-her-and-die etc.
I ate this up tbh. Some of the writing made me cringe a tiny bit hence the dropped star but honestly as far as contemporary mystery romances go this was a win for me and I’m immediately moving on to the next in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Blood
Minor: Alcoholism
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Imagine my surprise thinking I’d picked up a small town romance and, instead, reading a thriller. Holy smokes, I have been on a JOURNEY with Fragile Sanctuary.
This tale gives us two tortured souls who have loved fiercely and lost even more so. Rho’s uninterruptible optimism in the aftermath of such loss is inspiring. Anson’s bravery to allow his walls to be broken down and to open his heart is gut-wrenching. The juxtaposition of these two characters and the ways in which they dealt with their grief is beautiful. They met in the middle to create a love story that encompassed honesty, fragility and hope.
The thriller aspect of this book was both fun and dark. It was driving me a bit barmy, though, that nobody thought it a strange coincidence thatboth characters were being stalked and tortured. Surely, it’s obvious that there’s only one perpetrator at that point. Perhaps a story set in a big city, full of crime, would have made that more believable, but a town like Sparrow Falls was just not the right setting for that, in my opinion.
I enjoyed (and felt terribly guilty about) consistently questioning every character’s motives as they engaged with Rho. Ultimately, I did guess who The Hangman was beforehand (though I doubted myself) but it didn’t make the reveal any less intriguing.
I’m intrigued to see how the Sparrow Falls series will continue. Will we get a bunch more crime? Or some sweet romances? Maybe both. Who knows? Either way, I’m hooked!
This tale gives us two tortured souls who have loved fiercely and lost even more so. Rho’s uninterruptible optimism in the aftermath of such loss is inspiring. Anson’s bravery to allow his walls to be broken down and to open his heart is gut-wrenching. The juxtaposition of these two characters and the ways in which they dealt with their grief is beautiful. They met in the middle to create a love story that encompassed honesty, fragility and hope.
The thriller aspect of this book was both fun and dark. It was driving me a bit barmy, though, that nobody thought it a strange coincidence that
I enjoyed (and felt terribly guilty about) consistently questioning every character’s motives as they engaged with Rho. Ultimately, I did guess who The Hangman was beforehand (though I doubted myself) but it didn’t make the reveal any less intriguing.
I’m intrigued to see how the Sparrow Falls series will continue. Will we get a bunch more crime? Or some sweet romances? Maybe both. Who knows? Either way, I’m hooked!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gaslighting
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved this book so much! The grandma was hilarious and I loved the found family aspect. I truly guessed wrong and it shocked me. Made me laugh and tear up some. Cannot wait for book two!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fragile Sanctuary infused perfection between romance and suspense; not to mention comedic moments that provided the perfect amount of lightness. There was so much to love about this story starting with Rhodes’ found family. Lolli, the grandmother of the bunch, was absolutely hilarious with her “special” diamond art and spitfire attitude. Rhodes’ foster dog, Biscuit, was just the cutest and delivered some hilarious happenings. Main characters, Anson and Rhodes were the exact embodiment of grump-sunshine who both balances the others strengths and flaws. Both had dark pasts but together they strengthened each other by sharing their past tragedies. Not to mention the steamy scenes and lines that came out of them would definitely fog up glass. The suspense made it feel like I was watching a movie and the red herrings were well thought out, which means I couldn’t figure out who the criminal was.
Additionally, Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber were the quintessential narrators to bring Rhodes and Anson to life.
This was a show stopping story and congrats to Catherine for another superb series debut!
Thank you Catherine Cowles for the alc and arc. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Gun violence